The Conservatives look set to lose over 500 seats in the upcoming local elections, according to a recent poll.
The new poll of 1,749 adults by pollster Find Out Now and election experts Electoral Calculus was conducted between 27-28 April.
The results suggest a swing of 6% to Labour away from Conservatives with the former likely to gain around 16 councils, giving them control of 85.
The Conservatives could lose several councils, including the City of Westminster, and could end up with less than 40 councils, the poll results suggest.
In terms of the number of ward seats won in England and Wales, the Conservatives look set to end up with 978 (-548) while Labour are likely to end on 3,514 (+819).
Martin Baxter, CEO of Electoral Calculus, commented: ‘The renewed Partygate focus has made a poor situation for the Conservatives even worse by persuading even more Conservative supporters not to turn out at the local elections. The results could now be bad for Boris Johnson, especially if the Conservatives lose many hundreds of council seats and key flagship councils like Wandsworth or Westminster.
‘These results would also be good for Keir Starmer, who needs to get his first real electoral gains since becoming Labour leader. The opposition doesn’t normally win a general election without winning other elections first, and Labour have to show that they can do that.’
