As Brexit tensions continue to simmer in the Conservative party, the May local elections look to be the next big danger point for Theresa May. MPs who are losing patience with the Prime Minister fear that any move now would be near impossible to justify to the public when the Tories remain neck-and-neck with Labour in the polls. The thinking goes that disappointing results in the local elections could provide the perfect cover to oust May from her position.
It’s true that disappointing results look likely. In London, the Tories expect a bloodbath, with elections analyst Lord Hayward predicting that the party could lose more than half of their London boroughs. In this vein, Jo Johnson – the minister for London – is expected to be appointed a political adviser to help with the workload. It doesn’t help proceedings that EU nationals will be able to vote – Tories are worried they may opt for a Brexit protest vote after May’s dithering on the rights of EU nationals.
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