Opinion

Theresa May's hand strengthened by local government results

The local government elections in Britain this week have taken on a particular significance in terms of providing an indication of voting intentions ahead of the Westminster poll in just over a month's time.

If the results in England, Scotland and Wales can be taken as a barometer of the likely outcome of the June 8 poll then it seems the Conservatives are on course for a decisive victory.

There is no doubt that the tally of votes yesterday told a story of a buoyant Tory party surging far ahead of its rivals.

Theresa May will look at the figures and feel well satisfied that her gamble in calling a snap general election is going according to plan, with not only Labour having a bad day but the Ukip vote collapsing.

It is difficult to see Ukip coming back from this humiliating showing but more importantly it is Labour that finds itself in a bleak position just weeks before a Westminster poll.

After seven years of Tory government, with the health service and education in crisis and fears over a hard Brexit, it should be the opposition surging ahead and the government party shedding seats but the reverse is the case for Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the results were `not the wipeout that some people expected', which is not the most convincing defence ahead of a general election.

Other Labour figures were more blunt, saying it was a `disastrous' showing for the party and certainly it was hard to find many positives as the tide flowed in the Tory direction.

What all this means for Northern Ireland is that Mrs May will feel her hand has been strengthened and she will stick to her hardline stance on the EU and the post-Brexit arrangements that are causing deep anxiety to people on both sides of the border.

Unless there is a dramatic change in circumstances over the next few weeks Theresa May knows there is every likelihood she will be swept back to power with an enhanced majority.