Exactly three years ago, they were the most popular, triumphant force in British politics.
In the local elections of May 2021, they not only gained 235 seats, but also swept to victory in the parliamentary by-election held in the traditionally Labour working-class constituency of Hartlepool.
Yet from that impressive peak the Tories have plunged into the pit of defeat and despair.
The unfolding results of Thursday's elections have exceeded even the most pessimistic forecasts of party strategists as they lost around half of the municipal seats they were defending, while they were also crushed in the Blackpool South by-election.
In a telling symbol of the rout, Labour regained control of Hartlepool Council, but nowhere seemed safe for Rishi Sunak's party.
The losses piled up from key marginal battlegrounds like Thurrock in Essex and from true-blue southern territory like Rushmoor Council in Hampshire, where Labour took charge for the first time in history.
Such was the scale of the massacre that it felt as if the public had already reached its guilty verdict on the Government, with the death sentence to be enacted at the general election.
This was the worst set of municipal results for a ruling party since John Major lost over 2,000 seats in 1995, a bloodbath that presaged Tony Blair's historic landslide two years later.
In fact the results may underplay the scale of the crisis now facing the Tories, for there is a real danger they could be trapped in a pincer movement, with opposition from the Left led by Labour and from the Right by the Reform party.
ãã®èšäºã¯ Daily Express ã® May 04, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ Daily Express ã® May 04, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
A morning of mayhem that made Scottie the big story
POLICE RAP IS MAKING OF HIM
Nobody gives a damn about rhymes in songs today
It's one of the most iconic hits ever, but Wichita Lineman will always remain flawed to Jimmy Webb. Ahead of his latest UK show, the songwriting legend tells the story of its creation, shares his frustrations at modern tastes and reveals why Taylor Swift is following in his footsteps
Election fever hits India
Colourful campaigns and rallies as race for votes heats up
If we blame zombie knives or police, those are just symptoms ...we need to focus on the cause
PROMISING footballer Kiyan Prince had his life ripped away in a moment of shocking violence 18 years ago.
'While other markets are dying, Bury is still doing well... but it would be nice to see more investment'
TRADERS at one of England's oldest markets say times are still tough after lockdown, but customers have flocked back because Britons love \"buying local\".
Three bodies from festival recovered in Gaza by Israel|
ISRAELI troops in Gaza have recovered the bodies of three people abducted by Hamas during its October 7 attack, including Shani Louk who was paraded in a truck by terrorists.
Defence of Kharkiv 'extremely difficult' as Russia gains miles
Zelensky's warning as Ukraine hit by heavy shelling
30,000 OAPS dying each year waiting for help from our broken care system
ALMOST 30,000 pensioners die every year waiting for help from the broken social care system, figures show.
Rishi's richer by £122million
THE personal fortune of Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty soared by more than £122million in the past year to overtake the King.
Voters simply don't trust Sir Keir to deal with migrant crisis or boost the economy
VOTERS overwhelmingly do not trust Sir Keir Starmer to bring down migration or tackle the small boats crisis, a poll has revealed.