07 May 2023 , 14:26
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Deluded Tories today blamed the war in Ukraine for Rishi Sunak’s election battering.
The PM lost more than 1,000 councillors across England as Labour became the biggest party in local government for the first time in more than 20 years.
Despite the bloodbath, Cabinet minister Lucy Frazer claimed Mr Sunak is “starting to gain the trust of the British public”.
The Culture Secretary acknowledged the Tories "could have done much better" in Thursday’s votes that saw Brexit-backing areas returning to Labour.
But she told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: "If we could look at the context for the whole local election, we've been in power for a long time.
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“We've just had a pandemic which has disrupted many people's lives and has had consequences for the economy, as has the war in Ukraine, which is going on."
Lucy Frazer bizarrely claimed Rishi Sunak is winning the trust of voters (Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)The minister claimed Mr Sunak is "starting to deliver in a quiet way for the British people", even though the country struggles.
The economy is not growing, inflation is still over 10%, the small boats have not been stopped, and millions are stuck on NHS waiting lists.
Pressed on whether she understood the scale of her party's losses, Ms Frazer said: "Totally, it's really important that we listen to people. I know people are frustrated and angry.
"I totally recognise we've had a really difficult few years.
"I do think that the Prime Minister, who's now been in office for six months, is getting the country back on track and is delivering. I think we're starting to gain the trust of the British public."
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said Labour is "confident but not complacent" about the next general election following the results.
Wes Streeting said Labour is confident but not complacent about the next general election (Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)The party gained more than 500 councillors as it took control of another 22 local authorities, including in Swindon, Stoke-on-Trent and Medway.
"I think those results do point to enormous progress made under Keir Starmer's leadership. He's changed the Labour Party, now he's got a hearing to be able to change the country, but there's more to do, Mr Streeting said."
Asked about the prospect of winning a majority at a general election, Mr Streeting said: "If you had told us in 2019 that this is where Labour would be four years following that worst defeat since 1935, I don't think anyone would have said that was possible.
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"People are turning to Labour again ... we know there is more work to do to earn people's trust and support, but on the basis of the results we saw on Thursday we are confident that Labour can win a majority."
He said the party is "not entertaining" the prospect of a coalition with another party such as the Liberal Democrats, but did not rule it out when challenged.
Sir Ed Davey’s party drew up a list of 20 seats that currently have Tory MPs where it got the most votes in Thursday’s local election.
Targets include Theresa May in Maidenhead, as well as seats held by Cabinet ministers Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove in Surrey and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan’s in Chichester.
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