Rishi Sunak handed glimmer of hope ahead of two crunch elections for Tories

By Katie Harris, Political Reporter

Sam Coates on YouGov poll on Tees Valley mayoral election

Rishi Sunak has been handed a glimmer of hope ahead of two crunch mayoral elections this week.

With Thursday's local elections set to be potentially disastrous for the Tories, the party is pinning its hopes on mayoral candidates in the West Midlands and Tees Valley where incumbents Andy Street and Ben Houchen are seeking re-election.

And new polling suggests the Conservatives could hold on to both mayoralties in what would be a major boost for the embattled Prime Minister.

The YouGov survey puts Mr Houchen seven points ahead of his Labour rival in the race for Tees Valley.

Mr Houchen - who is seeking a third term - is on 51 percent, while Labour candidate Chris McEwan is on 44 percent. Lib Dem Simon Thorley takes the remaining 5 percent of the vote in the poll of 924 voters conducted from April 12-29.

Tory Mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen (Image: Getty)

The polling also gives Conservative Mr Street a two-point lead in the West Midlands contest, although the result is within the margin of error.

Mr Street is on 41 percent, while Labour challenger Richard Barker is on 39 percent in the survey of 1,495 voters.

Reform UK's Elaine Williams comes third with 9 percent followed by the Greens’ Siobhan Harper-Nunes on 6 percent, independent Akhmed Yakoob on 3 percent and Lib Dem Sunny Virk with 2 percent.

If the Tories lose the two contests it will pile more pressure on Mr Sunak as his party languishes in the polls nationally.

But if the Conservatives hold on to one or more it will spark hope that the Prime Minister may be able to pull off a comeback.

Conservative West Midlands Mayor Andy Street (Image: Getty)

There are ballots for 12 metro mayors across the country but Tees Valley and the West Midlands are the only two currently held by the Tories.

It comes as forecasts suggest Thursday's local elections could see the Tories lose up to half of the council seats they are defending.

Speaking today, Mr Sunak told ITV News: "Local elections are always difficult for incumbent governments, but we'll be campaigning very hard.

"We've got fantastic candidates and, as we said, there's a very clear contrast in what you get from Conservatives at a local level - keeping your taxes low, keeping crime low, attracting jobs and investment - and the alternative with Labour - taxes going up, local authorities bankrupted, motorists being driven off the road and houses not remotely being built for a next generation."