UK polls close in local elections with Rishi Sunak braced for Tory losses

Cinna, an eight-year-old rescue dog from Greece, arrives with its owners at the polling station at St Alban’s Church, south London (PA)

British prime minister Rishi Sunak is braced for a difficult set of election results which could increase pressure on his leadership of the UK Conservative Party and the country after polls closed on Thursday night.

Forecasts suggest the Tories could lose up to half of the council seats they are defending in England, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt saying the party expects to suffer “significant losses”.