Rishi Sunak puts a brave face on local elections disaster as his survival hopes are boosted by Tory mayor holding on in Tees Valley - after Blackpool South by-election collapse and council bloodbath

This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Rishi Sunak put a brave face on grim elections today - as he was given a glimmer of hope with Labour conceding defeat in the Tees Valley mayoral battle. In a boost for Rishi Sunak, senior sources acknowledged that they had 'fallen short' of ousting Tory incumbent Ben Houchen despite a 'significant swing' Lord houchen - a close ally of Boris Johnson - was the only candidate on stage not wearing a party rosette today Visiting the Blackpool South constituency this morning flanked by Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer said voters wanted to 'turn the page' on the government New Labour MP for Blackpool South Chris Webb, pictured with his son Cillian and wife Portia, called on Rishi Sunak to 'do the decent thing, admit you've failed and call a general election' England Local England Mayoral London Assembly London Mayoral Police & Crime Speaking at a military base in North Yorkshire, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: 'Obviously it's disappointing to lose good, hard-working Conservative councillors and I'm grateful to them for all their service in local government, keeping council tax low and delivering services for local people. Reform UK leader Richard Tice was bullish about the result in Blackpool, where the party came within a whisker of second place Labour supporters were celebrating in Peterborough this morning as they became the largest party on the council Party activists punched the air in delight in Sunderland as Labour retained control of the council LOCAL ELECTIONS: KEY RESULTS SO FAR - Hartlepool Three years ago Labour lost the Hartlepool parliamentary by-election to the Conservatives - an event that reportedly led Sir Keir Starmer to consider resigning as party leader. This year Hartlepool gave Labour cause for celebration, with the party winning control of the council for the first time since 2019 thanks to a net gain of seven seats, while the Tories lost six. Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrived at a polling station in London on Thursday to cast their votes Rishi Sunak's string of by-election losses as PM July 2023 - Selby and Ainsty July 2023 - Somerton and Frome October 2023 - Mid Bedfordshire October 2023 - Tamworth February 2024 - Wellingborough February 2024 - Kingswood May 2024 - Blackpool South Labour retained control of South Tyneside, but lost at least seven seats to independents.