Tories find reasons to be cheerful despite election bloodbath

On track to lose 500 council seats, Conservatives point to Labour's failure to win control of Harlow council - by one seat

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Some Conservatives had feared that Friday's political bloodbath could have been even worse. As the local election results began to trickle in, Rishi Sunak and his team were arguing there were reasons to be cheerful.

It was a remarkable way to confront one of the worst local election performances the Conservatives have ever suffered, which experts said demonstrates that Labour is firmly on track for a parliamentary majority.