The double blow of Westminster scandals and rising living costs appear set to cost the UK’s ruling Conservatives hundreds of town hall seats in Thursday's local elections as supporters from wealthy heartlands turn their backs on the party’s leaders, polling suggests.
The main opposition Labour Party is on course to become the biggest winner from the anticipated drop in support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives after he was fined for breaching a Covid-19 lockdown to attend a party.
But the Liberal Democrats — traditionally in third place — are also tipped to gain three new councils, including Woking, in the country’s wealthiest county of Surrey, according to new polling this week.
The party is mounting a strong push in the leafy district of neighbouring Elmbridge where it has seized on infighting among the local Conservatives as part of a wider campaign to oust the sitting MP, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab.
Despite being home to some of Britain’s wealthiest residents, the Conservatives lost control of Elmbridge council in 2016 and it is now run by residents’ groups, independents and the Liberal Democrats.
The pro-European Union Liberal Democrats hope that a successful vote on Thursday will put further pressure on Mr Raab, who only narrowly won his once safe seat of Esher and Walton at the last national elections in 2019. The Lib Dems targeted the seat after Mr Raab backed the Brexit campaign.
The Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said that Mr Johnson’s government was “mired in sleaze” and had run out of steam. “When I speak to people on the doorsteps, the biggest issue is cost of living,” he said.
Alan Kopitko, 64, a councillor for 23 years, claims he was told he was “too old” to stand again for the Conservatives and has promptly given his support to a Liberal Democrat candidate.
In a stinging letter to local residents, Mr Kopitko accused senior Conservatives of “spreading lies and misinformation” in the “relentless pursuit of power at any cost”. The local Conservatives called it a “blatant attempt to smear” the party.
“On the doorstep when I’m out talking to residents, the situation with Boris and Dominic has done lots of harm to Conservatives,” he told The National. “It becomes embarrassing to a point where people say they are not going to vote for them any more. So that’s where we’re at.
“I think they’re out of touch with what people want. The local election issue will come down to national politics as a whole and I think what will happen is Conservatives in Elmbridge will sit on their hands.”
Christine Cross, a Conservative councillor in Elmbridge, said that residents were focused on local concerns and recognised that rising prices were out of their control. “I think a lot of people realise that this is about local issues and is different to the national picture,” she said. “I think the majority of people are sensible about it.”
Another former Conservative councillor, Barry Cheyne, is standing for a residents’ group at Thursday’s election. A number of Surrey councils have seen a surge in non-aligned political parties to campaign on issues such as opposing building in the countryside.
He said that information from campaigning suggested that the Liberal Democrats were doing well in some areas, while residents’ groups were also picking up support because of a broader disillusionment with political parties.
“There’s a move away from the Conservative Party, I’d say that’s fairly national,” he said. “People have lost trust in the party. They are finding that the cost of living is going up and there’s not an awful lot being done about it. People are genuinely worried about their futures.”
One in three houses in Elmbridge is valued at more than £1 million ($1.25m), according to research by estate agency Savills. Mr Cheyne said this led to a false assumption that the council was run by the Conservatives, traditionally the party of wealthier Britons.
But he said the vote was likely to be significant to determining the future course of the Conservative Party with the next national elections to be held no later than January 2025. Mr Raab co-signed a letter to Conservative supporters calling for funds in March, amid worries about the Liberal Democrats' strong charge.
Their “aim is to take control of Esher and Walton from the bottom up,” he wrote in the letter with the local Conservative chairman. “These [local] elections are vital.”
Some analysts say that a bad local election for Mr Johnson could lead to further questions about his leadership.
Chris Holbrook, chief executive of Pollsters Find Out Now, whose study this week predicted a big loss of Conservative council seats, said: “It might have other Tories jostling for position to replace him, even more than some in the media suggest they are already.
“The Tories will try to argue that this is a blip driven by 'Partygate'. Labour will argue it is a true shift in opinion due to scandals and the cost of living crisis.”
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1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
England v South Africa Test series:
First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs
Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs
Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31
Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
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Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
The Perfect Couple
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Creator: Jenna Lamia
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Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
THE%20SPECS
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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Company%20profile
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
SPECS
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Company%20Profile
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Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Six large-scale objects on show
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- Torrijos Palace dome
%3Cp%3EThe%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20-%20Abu%20Dhabi%E2%80%99s%20Arabic%20Language%20Centre%20will%20mark%20International%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Day%20at%20the%20Bologna%20Children's%20Book%20Fair%20with%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Translation%20Conference.%20Prolific%20Emirati%20author%20Noora%20Al%20Shammari%2C%20who%20has%20written%20eight%20books%20that%20%20feature%20in%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education's%20curriculum%2C%20will%20appear%20in%20a%20session%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20discuss%20the%20challenges%20women%20face%20in%20getting%20their%20works%20translated.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
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Founder: Ayman Badawi
Date started: Test product September 2016, paid launch January 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software
Size: Seven employees
Funding: $170,000 in angel investment
Funders: friends
The years Ramadan fell in May
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SPECS
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