Rishi Sunak is braced for a difficult set of election results which could increase pressure on his leadership of the Conservative Party and the country after polls closed on Thursday night.Forecasts suggest the Tories could lose up to half of the council seats they are defending in England,

He had his own pre-election gift to show off as he introduced Dan Poulter to the Labour benches. The doctor and MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich quit the Tories on Saturday and crossed the floor in protest at the Government’s handling of the NHS.

English voters headed to polling stations on Thursday to pick mayors, councillors and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.