Tories falter in council by-election battles as party loses three seats in spite of polling spike

Kemi Badenoch's Conservative Party failed at a chance to claw back support in a wave of by-election battles across Britain this week, as the party failed to successfully defend three seats in stronghold regions.

The party has suffered at the hands of a "divided right" in recent months, with the popularity of Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain skewering support and testing the two-party system.

The Conservatives defended vacated council seats in Cheshire, Scotland, Dorset and Wales – facing fierce opposition from the right, in addition to a rebounded Labour under the imminent leadership of Andy Burnham.

The Tories lost to the SNP in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the Lib Dems in Powys, Wales, and to an independent candidate in Cheshire - only retaining the Dorset seat in St Leonards & St Ives.

Meanwhile, Labour suffered a gruesome string of defeats, losing a seat in Harborough to Reform, and finishing dead last in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, and one of three Powys wards.

Reform UK however, made major gains, pinching seats in Powys, Harborough and Torfaen respectively.

The widespread contests dampened the Tory flame, having begun to climb in the public opinion polls, with voter intentions in favour of Mrs Badenoch's party up to 20 per cent this week, according to YouGov – which is in line with Labour and just four points behind Reform.