the pile on the g7. .. since the pandemic the pile on the g7. .. since the pandemic we the pile on the g7. .. since the pandemic we have the pile on the g7. .. since the pandemic we have not - the pile on the g7. .. since the pandemic we have not gone i the pile on the g7. .. since the i pandemic we have not gone back the pile on the g7. .. since the - pandemic we have not gone back to pre pandemic levels. are you going to be one of those asking for tax cuts are expecting them in this budget? cuts are expecting them in this bud . et? cuts are expecting them in this buduet? ., cuts are expecting them in this buduet? ., , , ~ budget? i m not because i think there is a proto- budget? i m not because i think there is a proto- package - budget? i m not because i think there is a proto- package going| budget? i m not because i think. there is a proto- package going on there is a proto package going on here and i think the thread you see running through previous conserva
Gains. Another blow for conservatives, they also lost a blackpool by election. The third biggest swing in the postwar by election history. Heres our political correspondent, hannah miller. The Prime Minister touring a Military Base with very little to laugh about. Laughter. Trying to defend his partys losses after a dismal set of results. Obviously its disappointing to lose good, hard working conservative councillors, but weve still got lots of results to come as well. And there are also things that i would point to. Harlow, for example, where keir starmer held a rallyjust on wednesday saying that was a place that he had to win to be on track to win a General Election. That hasnt happened. The conservatives did deprive labour of a win in harlow, but they still lost five seats and are considering that a success. The party had also pinned its hopes on ben houchen remaining tees valley mayor, though he wasnt even wearing a rosette. He did thank the Prime Minister in a later show of unity.
And they came a close third to the conservatives. Heres the result their candidate came in just 117 votes behind their conservative rival securing 17 of the vote. I spoke to the leader of reform uk richard tice and asked him if he was pleased with the result or frustrated not to have done better. It would have been great, but nevertheless, we are delighted with 17 , its above our National Polling average, our best by election result, and what it shows actually, with great local candidates, more and more people are hearing about reform uk and they like the message they hear, and everybody knew labour would win this but if you look at the collapse in the tory vote, they went from 50 down to 17 . This is a seismic shift. What about the idea for voters that actually you did very well Given National vote share and the things you mentioned, nobody will dispute that, but its still nowhere near actually winning a seat, so what does that say to voters in the area . That says we have the wrong E
About their parties fortunes. Heres a little of what they had to say. We want that General Election and were confident going into the General Election. Because what this by election shows is that the country wants change. This is a very clear divide, weve had 1a years of failure and decline, weve got chaos and division from the tories. People want to turn the page on that and go forward with labour and our positive plan for the country. Obviously, its disappointing to lose good, Hard Working Conservative counsellors and im grateful to them for all their service in local government, keeping council tax low and delivering services for local people. But weve still got lots of results to come as well, which is great, and there are also things that i would point to harlow for example, where keir starmer held a rallyjust on wednesday saying that was a place he had to win to be on track to win a General Election that hasnt happened. This may care from sir ed davey of the Liberal Democrats. Th