Tory Local Election Losses Erode Sunak's Momentum and Competence Image
• Sunak's Tories were recovering in polls, rebuilding trust, until local election losses • "Strong horse theory" winners gain support, losers lose support • Starmer gained momentum and became more credible after election wins • Sunak seen as safe pair of hands until Tories lost 48 councils and 1,000 councillors • Losing the local elections started a downward spiral for Tories, chipping away at competence image