#hardright

Though seen as a barometer of public anger, the prime minister’s name itself was not on the ballot. Instead, Britons voted in more than 5,000 local government elections in England, a handful of mayoral contests around London, and votes for the Welsh and Scottish parliaments — devolved legislatures with powers over transport, health and other areas. Many of those votes were still to be counted…

Labour activists on the doorstep are “fighting this idea of, ‘We’ll give someone else a go,’” said Carwyn Jones, a giant of Welsh politics who served as Labour first minister from 2009 to 2018. “It’s very difficult.” Leighton Andrews, who served as Jones’ education minister, described the party’s mood as “gloomy and resigned.” Welsh Labour did not respond to a request to interview one of its…

“The Conservative Party is facing an existential crisis,” Curtice said. “Farage’s aim is to replace them.” This fear was palpable in Fareham. “We had repeated assurances from her that she wouldn’t defect, so it’s a big surprise and a big disappointment,” said Harry Kewish, the local Conservative treasurer who answered the door at her former office. “She is convinced that she has made the right…