Evening Standard Comment: As the local elections approach, the Tories ignore London at their peril

Christian Adams
WEST END FINAL

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Our exclusive poll today reveals that Labour has built up a 27-point lead over the Tories in the capital ahead of next week’s local elections.

The YouGov survey puts Sir Keir Starmer’s party on 50 per cent of the vote, more than double the Conservatives on 23 per cent. That 27-point Labour lead represents a five-point improvement on 2018, the last time these seats were contested.

The reasons for this state of affairs are well-trodden: the Conservatives are presiding over a cost of living crisis, while the partygate scandal is dragging down local candidates.

But there is a particular capital angle. Not only skyrocketing rents in the city but a general sense that the Government isn’t much interested in London outside of the context of levelling-up the rest of the country, which all too often appears to mean levelling-down the capital.

It is not unalloyed good news for Labour. Its growing poll lead can be attributed largely to a fall in support for the Conservatives, rather than to widespread Labour advances. And Starmer will be keenly aware that his party must make gains nationwide to win the next general election.

Local issues still matter of course, and it is far from certain how individual councils will go, but the message to the Government is likely to be loud and clear: ignore London at your peril.

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