Tories Bracing for Crushing Blows as Polls Suggest Swings Towards Labour

Today, voters in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth will head to the polls in two crucial by-elections, putting Rishi Sunak's premiership reset to the test. The Conservative Party is anticipating significant losses, with polls indicating strong support for Labour. Andrew Cooper, the Conservative candidate in Tamworth, is defending a 19,636 majority won by Chris Pincher, who was expelled from the Commons due to a groping scandal. In Mid-Bedfordshire, local Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye will attempt to hold on to the seat, previously held by Nadine Dorries with a 24,000 majority.

PM's Loyal Backers Admit Seats Are "Tough" and "Dire"

Even the Prime Minister's most loyal supporters have acknowledged the challenging nature of these by-elections. After a final weekend of campaigning, Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, urged voters to support his party for a brighter future. He said, "Polls are now open in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire. Today, vote for change. Vote to get Britain's future back. Vote Labour."

Controversy Surrounding Conservative and Labour Candidates

As polling booths opened, Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel for a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the conflict with Hamas. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister refused to condemn his Tamworth candidate, Andrew Cooper, who faced criticism for making offensive remarks on Facebook. Cooper suggested that out-of-work parents who can't afford to feed their children should "f*** off". Similarly, Labour's candidate in Mid Beds, Alistair Strathern, faced backlash after being exposed as a Greenpeace supporter. Strathern and his partner, Megan Corton-Scott, participated in a zombie-themed stunt outside the Home Office and protested against laws targeting Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.