<p>In Britain, embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing more pressure on Friday (May 3) as his party lost another parliamentary seat to the main opposition Labour, which is making gains in the just-concluded elections that had several local body positions up for grabs.</p>

<p>Labour has seized the parliamentary constituency of Blackpool South from the Tories, in the latest by-election defeat for the British ruling party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Labour candidate Chris Webb registered a massive victory and bagged the parliamentary seat with 10,825 votes. The Conservative candidate David Jones came in second place with less than 50 per cent of Webb's votes at 3,218.</p>

<p>As per AFP, the loss of the constituency in the northwest of England appears to be just one defeat for Tories, who appear to be on course to lose the upcoming general elections too. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In another major setback,&nbsp;Labour’s David Skaith emerged victorious in the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election, securing victory in the prime minister’s own backyard.&nbsp;Skaith gathered almost a third of total votes. This is seen as a major jolt to PM Sunak as the seat is considered a Conservative stronghold.</p>

<h2><strong>A scandal and a vote</strong></h2>

<p>As per the report, the vote in Blackpool South was triggered by a lobbying scandal that saw the 2019-elected Conservative MP Scott Benton resign.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/kim-jong-un-picks-25-virgins-annually-for-his-pleasure-squad-claims-report-717336">Kim Jong-Un picks 25 virgins annually for his 'pleasure squad,' claims report</a></strong></p>

<p>On Thursday, over 2,000 seats were up for grabs in local elections that also saw some high-profile mayoral contests&nbsp;including UK capital London, besides the parliamentary seat of Blackpool South.</p>

<p>According to Reuters, the "thumping victory" in Blackpool South "set the tone" for what it says are set to be a closely watched two days of results ahead of a full national election later this year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Seismic win'</strong></h2>

<p>Polls show that this year's elections could be the end of 14 years of Conservative government, as Labour Leader Keir Starmer appears to be the popular choice.</p>

<p>Applauding the victory, Starmer in a statement said, "This seismic win in Blackpool South is the most important result today."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/extortion-allegations-and-more-heres-what-happened-on-day-10-of-trump-hush-money-trial-717544">'Extortion' allegations, and more, here's what happened on Day 10 of Trump hush money trial</a></strong></p>

<p>"This is the one contest where voters had the chance to send a message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives directly, and that message is an overwhelming vote for change," Starmer said.</p>

<p>Most opinion polls show Sunak's Tories&nbsp;lagging 20 points behind Labour.</p>

<p>Sunak is expected to call for a National Election in the second half of this year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em>&nbsp;</p>


In Britain, embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing more pressure on Friday (May 3) as his party lost another parliamentary seat to the main opposition Labour, which is making gains in the just-concluded elections that had several local body positions up for grabs.

In Britain, embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing more pressure on Friday (May 3) as his party lost another parliamentary seat to the main opposition Labour, which is making gains in the just-concluded elections that had several local body positions up for grabs. Labour has seized the parliamentary constituency of Blackpool South from the Tories, in the latest by-election defeat for the British ruling party. Labour candidate Chris Webb registered a massive victory and bagged the parliamentary seat with 10,825 votes. The Conservative candidate David Jones came in second place with less than 50 per cent of Webb's votes at 3,218. As per AFP, the loss of the constituency in the northwest of England appears to be just one defeat for Tories, who appear to be on course to lose the upcoming general elections too. In another major setback, Labour’s David Skaith emerged victorious in the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election, securing victory in the prime minister’s own backyard. Skaith gathered almost a third of total votes. This is seen as a major jolt to PM Sunak as the seat is considered a Conservative stronghold. A scandal and a vote As per the report, the vote in Blackpool South was triggered by a lobbying scandal that saw the 2019-elected Conservative MP Scott Benton resign. Also read | Kim Jong-Un picks 25 virgins annually for his 'pleasure squad,' claims report On Thursday, over 2,000 seats were up for grabs in local elections that also saw some high-profile mayoral contests including UK capital London, besides the parliamentary seat of Blackpool South. According to Reuters, the "thumping victory" in Blackpool South "set the tone" for what it says are set to be a closely watched two days of results ahead of a full national election later this year. 'Seismic win' Polls show that this year's elections could be the end of 14 years of Conservative government, as Labour Leader Keir Starmer appears to be the popular choice. Applauding the victory, Starmer in a statement said, "This seismic win in Blackpool South is the most important result today." Also read | 'Extortion' allegations, and more, here's what happened on Day 10 of Trump hush money trial "This is the one contest where voters had the chance to send a message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives directly, and that message is an overwhelming vote for change," Starmer said. Most opinion polls show Sunak's Tories lagging 20 points behind Labour. Sunak is expected to call for a National Election in the second half of this year. (With inputs from agencies)

Labour records 'thumping victory,' snatches Blackpool South parliamentary seat from Sunak's Conservatives

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<p>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party might be on the precipice of a mass exodus. As many as 100 MPs are planning to stand down before the parliamentary elections, according to a report by&nbsp;<em>The Times</em>, which cites senior Tory leaders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A series of by-election losses and resignations, owing to scandals and protests over government policies have put the Sunak government in a crisis mode.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many of the MPs fear they will lose their seats in the upcoming poll, while others are looking for jobs in the private sector.</p>

<p>According to experts, Tories are so far behind in the electoral race that top leaders are dropping the towel to avoid the post-election embarrassment.</p>

<p>“Why stick around to get smashed in an election and spend ten years in opposition,” one of the rebels was quoted as saying by the publication, adding that Sunak should stand down and let someone else lead the party.</p>

<p>This month alone, the likes of Sir Bob Neill, chair of the House of Commons justice committee, former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and deputy chair Nickie Aiken have announced that they would be leaving parliament and not contest this year's election.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-boris-johnson-making-a-comeback-691059"><strong>Watch | Gravitas: Is Boris Johnson making a comeback?</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Tories struggling&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Since embattled former prime minister Boris Johnson led the party to a substantial majority at the 2019 General Election, the Conservatives have now lost 10 by-elections in a single parliamentary term. The latest defeats came in Wellingborough and Kingswood where Labour managed a 28.5 per cent and 16.4 per cent vote swing.</p>

<p>After the by-election victories earlier this week, Labour leader Kier Starmer said the message was clear that the "country is crying out for change".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I was very pleased last night to see that we were clearly getting Tory switchers, in other words people who hadn’t voted for the Labour Party before, coming out last night and voting for the Labour Party in a by-election," said Starmer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-labour-party-deals-double-blow-to-pm-sunaks-conservatives-691070"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Britain's Labour Party deals double blow to PM Sunak's Conservatives</strong></a></p>

<p>Sunak has not done himself or his party any favours by faltering big time on the economic front. Fresh data released earlier this week showed that the UK economy slipped into recession in the second half of 2023 and grew by just 0.1 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The by-election results, coupled with the weak economic performance and the jumping of the ship by senior Tory leaders could prove disastrous for Sunak in the elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party might be on the precipice of a mass exodus. As many as 100 MPs are planning to stand down before the parliamentary elections, according to a report by The Times, which cites senior Tory leaders.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party might be on the precipice of a mass exodus. As many as 100 MPs are planning to stand down before the parliamentary elections, according to a report by The Times, which cites senior Tory leaders. A series of by-election losses and resignations, owing to scandals and protests over government policies have put the Sunak government in a crisis mode. Many of the MPs fear they will lose their seats in the upcoming poll, while others are looking for jobs in the private sector. According to experts, Tories are so far behind in the electoral race that top leaders are dropping the towel to avoid the post-election embarrassment. “Why stick around to get smashed in an election and spend ten years in opposition,” one of the rebels was quoted as saying by the publication, adding that Sunak should stand down and let someone else lead the party. This month alone, the likes of Sir Bob Neill, chair of the House of Commons justice committee, former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and deputy chair Nickie Aiken have announced that they would be leaving parliament and not contest this year's election. Watch | Gravitas: Is Boris Johnson making a comeback? × Tories struggling Since embattled former prime minister Boris Johnson led the party to a substantial majority at the 2019 General Election, the Conservatives have now lost 10 by-elections in a single parliamentary term. The latest defeats came in Wellingborough and Kingswood where Labour managed a 28.5 per cent and 16.4 per cent vote swing. After the by-election victories earlier this week, Labour leader Kier Starmer said the message was clear that the "country is crying out for change". “I was very pleased last night to see that we were clearly getting Tory switchers, in other words people who hadn’t voted for the Labour Party before, coming out last night and voting for the Labour Party in a by-election," said Starmer. Also read | Britain's Labour Party deals double blow to PM Sunak's Conservatives Sunak has not done himself or his party any favours by faltering big time on the economic front. Fresh data released earlier this week showed that the UK economy slipped into recession in the second half of 2023 and grew by just 0.1 per cent. The by-election results, coupled with the weak economic performance and the jumping of the ship by senior Tory leaders could prove disastrous for Sunak in the elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Trouble for Sunak? Over 100 MPs could resign to avoid election embarrassment: Report

<p><strong>UK local elections 2023:</strong> Early results showed the ruling Conservative Party had lost around 200 seats in the elections for over 8,000 seats on 230 local councils across England. The opposition Labour Party and the centrist Liberal Democrats made significant gains, with the latter seizing control from the Conservatives in Windsor, an affluent town west of London. The elections are seen as a test of support for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government as the country approaches a general election due by the end of 2024.</p>

<h2><strong>Sunak facing heat for the actions of his predecessor</strong></h2>

<p>While some contests focused on local issues such as potholes and garbage collection, voters seemed to have punished the Conservatives for the turmoil that engulfed the party under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who resigned amid multiple scandals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: The untold story of Rishi Sunak</strong></p>

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<p>Then as the new prime minister, Liz Truss&nbsp;faced criticism for her rash tax-cutting plans, which spooked financial markets, hammered the value of the pound, and roiled the wider British economy. Sunak, a smooth former banker, was later chosen to restore stability to the economy and the government.</p>

<h2><strong>Conservatives acknowledge ‘disappointing results’</strong></h2>

<p>Sunak acknowledged the "disappointing" results for the Conservatives but insisted that "it's still early" in terms of the overall results. Greg Hands, the Conservative party chair, also admitted it was a disappointing night for the party. He said, “We always said it would be a difficult night for the party, the independent projections were all that we were going to lose 1,000 seats.”<br />
<br />
“It’s still early days so far but if I might say, it’s not been that great a result for Labour in some areas,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-prime-minister-rishi-sunak-faces-questions-in-parliament-says-choice-before-country-is-clear-588588">UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces questions in Parliament, says 'choice before country is clear'</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Labour says it will achieve majority in general elections</strong></h2>

<p>Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, claimed that his party was on the course for the majority in the upcoming general elections. He said this in Medway, where Labour has won control of the council for the first time since 1998.</p>

<p>Labour Party's national campaign coordinator, Shabana Mahmood, also said that the results put Labour on course to win a majority of seats in the&nbsp;general election. The party gained control of at least three new councils, and the results have been a disaster for Sunak, said Mahmood.</p>

<h2><strong>Local elections don’t reflect the complete picture</strong></h2>

<p>Overall, the results are not a complete snapshot of the UK as there were no elections in London, Scotland, or Wales, while Northern Ireland is set to vote on May 18. However, the early results have shown that the Conservatives are losing support while the opposition is gaining ground.</p>

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UK local elections 2023: Early results showed the ruling Conservative Party had lost around 200 seats in the elections for over 8,000 seats on 230 local councils across England.

UK local elections 2023: Early results showed the ruling Conservative Party had lost around 200 seats in the elections for over 8,000 seats on 230 local councils across England. The opposition Labour Party and the centrist Liberal Democrats made significant gains, with the latter seizing control from the Conservatives in Windsor, an affluent town west of London. The elections are seen as a test of support for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government as the country approaches a general election due by the end of 2024. Sunak facing heat for the actions of his predecessor While some contests focused on local issues such as potholes and garbage collection, voters seemed to have punished the Conservatives for the turmoil that engulfed the party under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who resigned amid multiple scandals. Watch: Gravitas Plus: The untold story of Rishi Sunak × Then as the new prime minister, Liz Truss faced criticism for her rash tax-cutting plans, which spooked financial markets, hammered the value of the pound, and roiled the wider British economy. Sunak, a smooth former banker, was later chosen to restore stability to the economy and the government. Conservatives acknowledge ‘disappointing results’ Sunak acknowledged the "disappointing" results for the Conservatives but insisted that "it's still early" in terms of the overall results. Greg Hands, the Conservative party chair, also admitted it was a disappointing night for the party. He said, “We always said it would be a difficult night for the party, the independent projections were all that we were going to lose 1,000 seats.” “It’s still early days so far but if I might say, it’s not been that great a result for Labour in some areas,” he added. Also Read | UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces questions in Parliament, says 'choice before country is clear' Labour says it will achieve majority in general elections Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, claimed that his party was on the course for the majority in the upcoming general elections. He said this in Medway, where Labour has won control of the council for the first time since 1998. Labour Party's national campaign coordinator, Shabana Mahmood, also said that the results put Labour on course to win a majority of seats in the general election. The party gained control of at least three new councils, and the results have been a disaster for Sunak, said Mahmood. Local elections don’t reflect the complete picture Overall, the results are not a complete snapshot of the UK as there were no elections in London, Scotland, or Wales, while Northern Ireland is set to vote on May 18. However, the early results have shown that the Conservatives are losing support while the opposition is gaining ground. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UK local elections 2023: ‘Disappointing‘ results for Tories as Labour makes solid gains

<p>The British are far fatter than any other nation in Europe bar the Maltese so there needs to be a debate about how to tackle soaring rates of obesity which cost the country dearly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.</p>

<p>Johnson, who said at the start of the year that he needed to lose weight, was hospitalised in April with coronavirus and treated in intensive care with oxygen. He later said doctors in the National Health Service (NHS) had saved his life.</p>

<p>Asked about how ill he had been in an interview with Times Radio, Johnson said: "I did lose some weight - that is perfectly true - as you do in ICU (Intensive Care Unit)."<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netizens-lash-out-at-british-pm-boris-johnson-after-his-press-ups-309417" hreflang="en">Netizens lash out at British PM Boris Johnson after his 'press ups'</a></p>

<p>"I have taken a very libertarian stance on obesity but actually when you look at the numbers, when you look at the pressure on the NHS, compare, I'm afraid this wonderful country of ours to other European countries, we are significantly fatter than most others, apart from the Maltese for some reason. It is an issue."</p>

<p>The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world: nearly one in three adults are obese, according to the OECD. Worldwide, obesity has nearly tripled since 1975 and more than 650 million people are obese - defined by the World Health Organization as having a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater.</p>

<p><strong>"HUGELY COSTLY"</strong></p>

<p>Johnson, who in his youth was slender, has ditched takeaways since his illness and even told meetings that “it’s all right for you thinnies” when discussing the novel coronavirus, British media reported.</p>

<p>"I am not going to pretend I have original thinking about this nor am I going to pretend that it is easy for politicians to solve - everybody knows that this is a tough one," Johnson said. "It's something we all need to address."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-pm-to-unveil-new-infrastructure-plan-to-revive-economy-in-face-of-pandemic-309188" hreflang="en">Britain PM to unveil new infrastructure plan to revive economy in face of pandemic</a></p>

<p>Asked if he was now an interventionist who would support a sugar tax, Johnson did not give a direct answer.</p>

<p>"We certainly must have a care for the health of our population and we will be happier and fitter and more resistant to diseases like COVID if we can tackle obesity," Johnson said. "It is hugely costly for the NHS."</p>

<p>Johnson did some press ups to show he was "as fit as a butcher's dog" in an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper.</p>

<p>Asked if he did the press ups because there was a narrative that he was not fit, he said: "Well I certainly hope not. Well no, yes."</p>

<p>"When I came out of hospital I did notice there were occasional pieces in the papers saying I was looking a bit wraithlike, or something someone said," Johnson said. "Complete nonsense I want you to know."</p>

<p>"I am feeling very well, yes thank you, again thanks to our National Health Service," he said.</p>


The British are far fatter than any other nation in Europe bar the Maltese so there needs to be a debate about how to tackle soaring rates of obesity which cost the country dearly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.

The British are far fatter than any other nation in Europe bar the Maltese so there needs to be a debate about how to tackle soaring rates of obesity which cost the country dearly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday. Johnson, who said at the start of the year that he needed to lose weight, was hospitalised in April with coronavirus and treated in intensive care with oxygen. He later said doctors in the National Health Service (NHS) had saved his life. Asked about how ill he had been in an interview with Times Radio, Johnson said: "I did lose some weight - that is perfectly true - as you do in ICU (Intensive Care Unit)." Also read: Netizens lash out at British PM Boris Johnson after his 'press ups' "I have taken a very libertarian stance on obesity but actually when you look at the numbers, when you look at the pressure on the NHS, compare, I'm afraid this wonderful country of ours to other European countries, we are significantly fatter than most others, apart from the Maltese for some reason. It is an issue." The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world: nearly one in three adults are obese, according to the OECD. Worldwide, obesity has nearly tripled since 1975 and more than 650 million people are obese - defined by the World Health Organization as having a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater. "HUGELY COSTLY" Johnson, who in his youth was slender, has ditched takeaways since his illness and even told meetings that “it’s all right for you thinnies” when discussing the novel coronavirus, British media reported. "I am not going to pretend I have original thinking about this nor am I going to pretend that it is easy for politicians to solve - everybody knows that this is a tough one," Johnson said. "It's something we all need to address." Also read: Britain PM to unveil new infrastructure plan to revive economy in face of pandemic Asked if he was now an interventionist who would support a sugar tax, Johnson did not give a direct answer. "We certainly must have a care for the health of our population and we will be happier and fitter and more resistant to diseases like COVID if we can tackle obesity," Johnson said. "It is hugely costly for the NHS." Johnson did some press ups to show he was "as fit as a butcher's dog" in an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Asked if he did the press ups because there was a narrative that he was not fit, he said: "Well I certainly hope not. Well no, yes." "When I came out of hospital I did notice there were occasional pieces in the papers saying I was looking a bit wraithlike, or something someone said," Johnson said. "Complete nonsense I want you to know." "I am feeling very well, yes thank you, again thanks to our National Health Service," he said.

The British are fatter than the rest of Europe, says PM Johnson

<p>The leader of Britain's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-leaders-welcome-brexit-clarity-from-conservative-victory-267987">pro-European Union</a> Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, lost her parliamentary seat to the Scottish National Party on Friday.</p>

<p>The Liberal Democrats had hoped to win over 'remain' voters by pledging to overturn Britain's 2016 vote to leave the EU but an exit poll predicted they would gain just one seat in parliament compared to the last national election in 2017.</p>

<p>Prime Minister<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-beckons-as-uks-johnson-coasts-to-commanding-win-267999"> Boris Johnson's Conservatives</a> are on course to win a large majority after voters backed his bid to deliver Brexit on January&nbsp;31. The SNP are predicted to win 50 of the 59 seats in Scotland.</p>

<p>"Some will be celebrating the wave of nationalism that is sweeping on both sides of the border," said Swinson, who only Liberal Democrat leader in July. "These are very significant results for the future of our country."</p>

<p>Swinson, who held the seat of East Dunbartonshire from 2005-2015 and then regained it in 2017, lost by just 149 votes.</p>

<p>She did not say whether she would be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrats, who were in coalition with the Conservatives from 2010-2015, but said she would be making further remarks later on Friday.</p>

<p>"I still believe that we as a country can be warm and generous, inclusive and open and that by working together with our nearest neighbours we can achieve so much more," she said.</p>

<p>"Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for these values that guide our liberal movement: openness, fairness, inclusivity. We will stand up for hope."</p>


The leader of Britain's pro-European Union Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, lost her parliamentary seat to the Scottish National Party on Friday. The Liberal Democrats had hoped to win over 'remain' voters by pledging to overturn Britain's 2016 vote to leave the EU but an exit poll predicted they would gain just one seat in parliament compared to the last national election in 2017.

The leader of Britain's pro-European Union Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, lost her parliamentary seat to the Scottish National Party on Friday. The Liberal Democrats had hoped to win over 'remain' voters by pledging to overturn Britain's 2016 vote to leave the EU but an exit poll predicted they would gain just one seat in parliament compared to the last national election in 2017. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives are on course to win a large majority after voters backed his bid to deliver Brexit on January 31. The SNP are predicted to win 50 of the 59 seats in Scotland. "Some will be celebrating the wave of nationalism that is sweeping on both sides of the border," said Swinson, who only Liberal Democrat leader in July. "These are very significant results for the future of our country." Swinson, who held the seat of East Dunbartonshire from 2005-2015 and then regained it in 2017, lost by just 149 votes. She did not say whether she would be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrats, who were in coalition with the Conservatives from 2010-2015, but said she would be making further remarks later on Friday. "I still believe that we as a country can be warm and generous, inclusive and open and that by working together with our nearest neighbours we can achieve so much more," she said. "Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for these values that guide our liberal movement: openness, fairness, inclusivity. We will stand up for hope."

UK Liberal Democrat leader Swinson loses seat to Scottish National Party

YouGov's UK election survey: Gap between Tories and Labour narrows. Watch video to know more.

YouGov's UK election survey: Gap between Tories and Labour narrows