Tories 'clear that these would be tough elections' for the party We've also heard from the Conservatives, who are also pointing out it could be a tough night for the party. A spokesman said: "Tonight will be the first real test of Keir Starmer's Labour government, ten months after they won an unprecedented majority at the general election. "The Conservatives have started on the process of renewing our party under Kemi Badenoch's leadership. "But we also have always been clear that these would be tough elections for the party - defending an incredibly high watermark from 2021 when we took two-thirds of all seats. "If the 2024 general election was replicated on today’s battleground, we would lose control of almost every single council. "Labour won a historic supermajority last year in a large number of areas that are facing local elections tonight and it would be reasonable to expect a government with such a commanding presence in Westminster to make serious progress tonight. "Anything less than this ought to raise serious questions about the direction Labour is taking this country, and about Keir Starmer's own leadership."