‘It’s not Boris on the ballot paper,’ activists campaigning for the local elections are having to tell voters
oris Johnson used to be king of the capital. As a politician who presented himself as metropolitan and socially liberal, he gifted the Conservatives their first control of London-wide government for 30 years by winning the mayoralty in 2008.
Ruth, who lives in Battersea and used to be a Conservative member, said that as a barrister, she was deeply unhappy with the prime minister’s breach of Covid laws. She admitted she was “very pleased with how the local party is acting”, but added: “The leader is such an important issue that you’ve just got to change that.”
Lauren, who works for Citizens Advice, said she would normally vote Liberal Democrat and was tempted to vote for the Conservatives locally since it is a Labour-Tory toss-up. “It’s a challenge in your head to distinguish between the national party,” she said. A Tory MP also privately moaned: “It’s like Downing Street hate Tory councillors and are figuring out how to have as few as possible.”Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian
One resident, Antonietta, was desperate for the council and the police to crack down on motorcyclists driving dangerously fast along the pavement in front of her house. “I’d say it’s going to be incredibly tight. It still looks like it’s on a knife-edge, genuinely a 50-50 election,” said Simon Hogg, Labour’s leader on Wandsworth council.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tories hit by another scandal after MP accused of watching porn in CommonsFemale MPs complain about sexism and misogyny in Tory ranks in meeting on Tuesday night
Read more »
Tesla plunges 12pc as tech sell-off sinks Nasdaq, ASX to follow Wall Street lowerAustralian shares are expected to fall sharply, after a technology sell-off on Wall Street intensified in the final hour over fears of a slowing economy and aggressive interest rate hikes from the US Federal Reserve.
Read more »
Man charged with murder of four family members in Bermondsey, says MetJoshua Jacques of Hither Green in south-east London is charged with fatally stabbing four people
Read more »
Chief whip investigates reports Tory MP watched porn in House of CommonsFemale Tory MPs complain about sexism in parliament after claims a senior colleague was watching porn on his phone
Read more »
Bianca Williams decries ‘culture of racism’ as Met police officers face misconduct chargesAthlete handcuffed and searched while travelling with her partner and baby in a car in west London
Read more »
PMQS: Boris Johnson questioned over cost of living, tax rises and claims of misogyny in Tory party – liveLatest updates: prime minister accused of ‘burying his head in the sand’ by Labour leader as cost of living crisis hits country
Read more »