Rishi Sunak may be battered and bruised after drubbing at the polls, but at least he is still a contender [Video]

Kicked in ballots but PM fights on

HE may have suffered a drubbing at the polls, but Rishi Sunak has crucially silenced the plotters.

Doomsayers were keen to predict that the Prime Minister would face an immediate leadership challenge following dire local election results.

But as his deputy Oliver Dowden says today, “the settled will of the Conservative Party is that Rishi Sunak will be leading us into the next election”.

Tory rebels have been angling to oust him even since he became leader.

But the prospect of a meltdown at the General Election has focused minds.

Significantly the PM may at last be able to get on to the front foot without forever nervously glancing in his rear-view mirror.

He should finally have the space, if not the time, to stamp his own vision …