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    Rishi Sunak says conservatives 'should be prepared for tough results' in local elections

    Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer went on the campaign trail after Wednesday's PMQ. Photo: JESSICA TAYLOR/AFP

    Rishi Sunak said the Conservatives will lose seats in local elections because of the “box set drama” that has gripped the party during the premierships of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

    Premier the minister said the party should be ready for tough results, saying “good advisers” will lose their seats because of “everything that has happened in the last year.”

    His comments at an event hosted by the Onward think tank came the night before local elections in much of England, in which the Conservatives are expected to suffer heavy losses.

    The Tories are predicted to lose up to 1,000 of 8000 seats. contested in 230 councils.

    Mr Sunak said: “I have only been prime minister for six months, but I believe we have made good progress. Just think about where we were then and where we are now.

    “Our economy is in much better shape. Our politics is no longer like a theatrical drama. And our friends and our allies know we're back.”

    He added: “We have to be prepared for the fact that tomorrow night will be difficult for us. Good advisers will lose their seats because of everything that has happened over the past year.

    “But tomorrow's hard night should not discourage us, but should make us redouble our efforts. We are still a party with energy, and thanks in no small part to all of you parties with ideas.”

    Controversial attack ad

    Mr Sunak also cited controversial ads attacking Labor, saying they were showing Sir Keir Starmer had no ideas.

    The PM had previously accused the Labor leader of plotting to “concrete the green belt” as he aims to make planning a key issue for Thursday's local elections.

    The prime minister said Labor wanted to “rape local communities” by setting new housing targets from top to bottom. In response to questions from the Prime Minister, the Labor leader accused the Conservatives of “killing young people's dream of owning their own home” because they are not building enough houses.

    Labor announced over the weekend that they would restore local targets to build thousands of homes that were demoted by the Tories.

    The dispute took place the day before local elections in much of England, in which the Conservatives were expected to suffer heavy losses.

    Despite pessimistic forecasts, Lord Hayward, a leading election expert, said the prime minister's night would not be as bad as expected. He predicted the Tories would lose 800 seats, while Labor and the Liberal Democrats would gain 550 and 250 respectively.

    He told The Telegraph it would be “disappointing” but not “terrible” for Mr. Sunak. a welcome “respite” for him as he fights to regain the confidence of the nation after several turbulent years for his party.

    Lord Hayward said: “The Tories will still have a lot of questions to answer – the country will tell them, 'Look, you're responsible for last year's chaos, you haven't convinced us yet.' that you deserve another period in government.

    “But if the numbers are about the same or better, then this will give Rishi a break. It's not good news, but it's not terrible either. Time to take a break and develop a policy.”

    “Buy yourself some time”

    He said Mr. Sunak “buyed himself some time” with the success of his new Brexit deal, but stressed that there was still more to be done to reducing inflation.

    “I think because of things like the Windsor Framework, he was able to demonstrate managerial skills as a minister,” he said.

    “People clearly like him in the sense that, despite the disappointing progress in the area of ​​inflation, they are willing to say he can get there.

    “He bought himself time with the Windsor Framework and with the budget, but he has not made progress in fighting inflation in the way that I am sure neither he wants nor the public.”

    < p>The Conservative polling guru predicted that the results would also be “disappointing” for Sir Keir Starmer on at least one key indicator, as Labor's seat share would rise at a notably slower rate than the Liberal Democrats'.

    He added , which will be important to note how the final figures are translated into national party vote equivalents, and the calculations are expected to be published on Sunday.

    Labor would have to “clearly” lead the Tories by more than 10 percent “if they want to feel like they're really on the road to an overall election victory,” he said.

    “From Political Arguments”

    G- Sunak also criticized Sir Keir for the fact that Labor is increasingly using personal attacks.

    He said: “Margaret Thatcher said that if they attack you personally, it means that they have no political argument. .

    “And listening to Sir Keir on PMQ over the past few weeks, it's pretty clear that he's really not into political arguments, let alone ideas.

    “So let's all think together about our country, how we're leveling up, how we're taking advantage of the AI ​​revolution, and how we're building that sense of pride we'll all be feeling this Saturday in our community and our country” , — Sir Keir wrote on the social network. Media after PMQ: "We will build more houses and build a better Britain. It could start tomorrow if you vote.”

    Housing was a key topic in the Commons on Wednesday and Sir Keir said: “His decision to abandon housing goals is killing a generation’s dream of home ownership. Why doesn't he admit that he made a mistake and cancel it?”

    Mr. Sunak replied: “I promised to hand over control of the new housing to the locals, and I am proud that I did it within six weeks after becoming prime minister.

    “A respected and educated gentleman wants to impose housing targets from top to bottom, concrete a green lane, and drive rudely through local communities.

    “Formerly, he officially stated that local people and communities should have more power and more control. Now it's turned around – just another in a long list of broken promises.”

    After the exchange, Sir Keir tweeted: “It's not right that the dream of owning a home is eluding families and young people across the country. My Labor government will set a target of 70 per cent home ownership. We will build more houses and build a better Britain. It could start as early as tomorrow if you vote.”

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