Tories' vote collapse 'cry of anger' from public

DEVASTATING local election results for the Conservatives should be seen as a “genuine cry of anger” from law-abiding voters who are furious about crime, Sir Iain Duncan Smith says.

- By David Williamson

He described the results — in which Nigel Farage’s Reform UK won 677 council seats, while the Tories lost 674 — as a “body blow” for the traditional parties of government.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain warned voters feel angry “daily” about empty high streets, antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and the fact “nobody cares a damn about what is going wrong”.

He said: “Once upon a time, law-abiding citizens were considered to be at the top of the pecking order. Now, they think they are at the bottom.

“They believe in and love this country but they don’t think their politicians do. They just don’t feel that their Westminster [MPs] care enough about their lives.”

Urging Tories to reach out to people feeling forgotten, he said: “We have to get down and live in their shoes and understand why they are so angry.”