Boris ‘losing ground’ as PM’s fate to be decided by elections in ‘totemic’ London boroughs


He said: “Conservatives have been losing ground in London for ages.

“But particularly in the belt from Westminster through to Merton and out to Kingston and Elmbridge — which includes Dominic Raab’s seat.”

Tory MPs, councillors and activists will be looking at the results to determine if Mr Johnson is still an electoral asset and should continue as leader and PM.

Labour have long dominated in young and ethnically diverse Inner London but electoral reverses in previously blue suburban areas and wealthy central ones will set alarm bells ringing

Hayward has identified Wandsworth and Westminster as the two key battlegrounds.

Wandsworth has been under Tory control since 1978 and was often cited by Margaret Thatcher as a flagship local authority.

However, Tory support has been waning among more liberal minded voters likely due to Brexit which along with boundary changes may result in a defeat.

Hayward warned that unless the “position improves markedly” a best case scenario may be only losing Wandsworth. 

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However, as James Frayne, a Conservative strategist argued this will only be possible with very strong results in provincial areas.

He said: “The Conservatives can be philosophical about losing seats in big cities only if results are very strong in towns.

“This way, they can claim their working-class pivot is bearing fruit.

“Boris Johnson will be in terrible difficulty if a weak performance in big cities is matched by disappointment in provincial England.

“At that point, Conservatives will reasonably ask ‘What’s the point of him?’”



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