Local election 2021 RESULTS LIVE – Labour blames pandemic for humiliation as Boris Johnson set for hat-trick
LABOUR has blamed the pandemic for their key election losses – as Boris Johnson is set to steal a hat-trick of Tory wins from the opposition.
The shadow home secretary said today Covid-19 thwarted Sir Keir Starmer from being able to “set out his vision” for the country.
Nick Thomas-Symonds told Times Radio: “Keir has been in a situation over the past year where, in the national interest by the way, he has been providing that constructive opposition to the pandemic. And that was absolutely right.
“What that has also meant is that it’s restricted the opportunities for Keir to set out his vision.”
It comes after Tory Jill Mortimer romped home in Hartlepool, winning it for the first time in more than 50 years with a massive 6,940 majority.
A clearly rattled Sir Keir said he would take “full responsibility” for the “bitterly disappointing” results for Labour.
Read our Local Elections 2021 live blog below for up to the minute updates…