Voters across England will go to the polls on May 1.

The Tories are on course to lose around 500 seats in next week’s local elections as Reform UK makes huge gains across the country, according to a Conservative polling expert.

In a major blow for Kemi Badenoch, Lord Hayward said his party will lose control of the 16 councils they currently run in the areas where voters will go to the polls on May 1.

The Tories will be left with just 400 councillors, well down on the 900 they won in 2021, the last time these seats were up for grabs.

By contrast, the Conservative peer forecasts that Reform UK will gain around 450 seats, with most of them in so-called “Red Wall” seats in the Midlands and the North.

Labour – who are defending around 300 seats – will be left with roughly the same number, Lord Hayward said.

But that will still mean a disappointing night for........

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