Rishi Sunak refuses to apologise after nearly 1,000 Tory councillors lose their seats in local elections

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Rishi Sunak has declined to apologise after nearly 1,000 Conservative councillors lost their seat in the local elections last week.

The Prime Minister was under pressure after the defeat neared the worst-case prediction for the party, in what was deemed a stark warning of things to come at the next general election.

Mr Sunak's party shed 48 local authorities and 962 councillors, but he remained defiant despite heavy losses. He conceded the results were 'disappointing', but said he was 'not detecting any massive groundswell of movement towards the Labour Party or excitement for its agenda'. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Speaking to broadcasters today (May 8), he declined to apologise to nearly 1,000 councillors from his party who lost their seat, as he vowed to 'work night and day' to achieve his priorities, the PA news agency reports.

The Prime Minister said: "I know that people want us to deliver for them on their priorities. I know that’s not going to happen overnight but we’re going to strain every sinew to do exactly that.” He reiterated his five priorities for the nation, adding: "I believe those are the country’s priorities, those are my priorities and I’m going to work night and day to deliver on them for everyone." But asked whether he would apologise to the 960 Tories who lost their seats, Mr Sunak said: “It’s always disappointing to lose hard working Conservative councillors and I said that at the time.” Labour gained 632 seats and seized 22 councils, including ones that would be hotly contested at a general election – such as Swindon, Medway, Stoke-on-Trent, Dover and East Staffordshire.