In a surprising turn of events, the Conservative Party faced significant losses in the recent local elections across the UK. Victory in Tees Valley marked a bright spot in a grim night for the Tories, with Labour picking up councils and mayors. Despite this setback, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been celebrating Ben Houchen's victory for the Conservatives in the Tees Valley mayoral race, amid a bad set of results for the party overall.
The former prime minister returned later with the necessary ID and was able to vote, highlighting the importance of exercising one's democratic right. Labour managed to secure a by-election win and a string of councils from the Tories, who still managed to retain the Tees Valley mayoralty. Millions of voters have cast their ballots in the last big test of public opinion before a general election, with the results of local elections shaping the political landscape.
On a poor night for the Conservatives in local elections, Ben Houchen was returned as the mayor of the Tees Valley. The mayor expressed his gratitude and plans for the future in an interview with the BBC. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have emerged victorious, winning 94 new council seats and gaining control of two councils in Thursday's local elections.