Tories facing 'extremely difficult' local elections

THE Conservatives are facing a tough challenge in May's local elections, Kemi Badenoch warned as she launched the party’s campaign to win town halls.

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The Tory leader was also defiant about the threat her party faces from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, urging voters to remember politics is not “showbusiness” and that “you will have to live with what you vote for”.

Voters across a number of county councils and unitary authorities in England will go to the polls on May 1, the first major electoral test since last July’s general election, in which the Conservatives suffered a crushing defeat and have since been overtaken in opinion polls by Reform.

Mrs Badenoch pledged “lower taxes and better services” as she launched the Tories’ local campaign yesterday.