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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dave Burke

Tory chairman mocked as party collapses in places he visited on campaign trail

The Tory party chairman has been mocked after his party was drubbed in places he visited on the campaign trail.

Analysis of results in last week's local elections reveal the Lib Dems gained 208 council seats in the Blue Wall areas where Greg Hands went.

The Tories endured a brutal night as more than 1,000 council seats were lost across England - with Labour, the Lib Dems and the Green Party making large gains.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper joked that Mr Hands has shown he has the "Midas touch"..

They won control of councils in Guildford and Stratford upon Avon - both of which were visited by Mr Hands - and made significant gains in 12 other 'Blue Wall' areas graced by the Tory chief.

Today the Lib Dems said they are targeting 20 Conservative seats - which would see Theresa May, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab among the casualties. they hope to inflict.

They hope to topple 20 key "Blue Wall" seats in England which could prove crucial in forcing Rishi Sunak out of Downing Street.

Lib Dem Daisy Cooper joked that Mr Hands has the 'Midas touch' (BBC)

Their analysis shows the Lib Dems made net gains in 13 of the 14 Blue Wall council areas visited by Mr Hands.

They also seized control of Stratford on Avon and Guildford - which were stop-offs on Mr Hands' tour of England.

Today Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper MP said: “Greg Hands has got the Midas Touch, almost everywhere he visits turns Lib Dem gold.

“He was brought in to shore up the Blue Wall but ended up seeing it collapse even more.

“Voters across the country are fed up with the Conservative Party and their appalling record on the NHS, cost of living and sewage.

"We need a general election now so we can kick this out-of-touch Conservative government out of office.”

Earlier today Tory culture secretary Lucy Frazer admitted results had been poor - but claimed her party's fortunes improved over the course of the campaign.

She said: "We absolutely need to reflect. Rishi has only been Prime Minister for six months."

And Ms Frazer continued: "I must say having knocked on doors throughout the campaign we've seen a change in the mood of the British people.

"It was very different at the beginning of the campaign but they're slowly starting to give the Government and Rishi credit."

But she conceded: "We need to do more, we need to deliver and we are delivering."

But the Tory frontbencher said: "I did see a shift in the course of my campaign, people are thinking we're listening to them, but I'm not going to pretend there isn't more to do."

This morning Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said he's "spent my life" fighting Tories - and won't go back into Government with them.

Sir Ed Davey said his party is hoping to make significant gains in the next General Election (PA)

Instead he hopes to drive out a number of top Tory figures including former Prime Minister Mrs May as well as Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and former chairman Nadhim Zahawi.

Dominic Raab, who last month quit as deputy PM after allegations of bullying, could also be unseated if the Lib Dems are successful.

Sir Ed refused to rule out a deal with Labour after both parties made impressive gains as the Tories took a drubbing in local council elections.

Speaking to BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said he intends to give the Conservatives a kicking at the next general election.

He said: "I spent all my life fighting the Conservatives."

When Ms Kuenssberg pointed out that he'd "sat round a table" with the Tories during the coalition government, he hit back; "I fought them every day during that period, let me tell you.

"You can fight within a Government and I did every day and I did with things like renewable power."

He said the local elections last week had been cause for optimism after the Lib Dems gained control of 12 councils and won an extra 405 seats.

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