Conservatives could lose over 60 seats at next election

The Conservative Party could lose 65 seats at the next election, with Labour becoming the largest party, a recent poll suggests.

The poll, published by Kantar Public, puts Labour three points ahead of the Tories, on 35 percent and 32 percent respectively. The Liberal Democrats and UKIP are both tied on 8 percent, with the Greens on 5 percent. Change UK and the newly-formed Brexit Party were not included in the poll.

Among the Tory losses would include Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, Welsh Secretary, former party leader Iain Duncan Smith and former Education Secretary Justine Greening, all losing their seats to Labour.

The area won by Duncan Smith with a majority of just under 2,500 has not been won by Labour since the 1960s.

As well as holding seats such as Kensington and Canterbury, Labour would be within only just over one percent away from winning the Cities of London and Westminster constituency, a seat that has voted Conservative since 1874.

Among the gains by the Liberal Democrats would be Richmond Park, a seat held by Conservative Zac Goldsmith, and Conservative-held Lewes.

In Scotland, the SNP look likely to begin a recovery from the 2017 election, winning back Dumfries and Galloway, Angus and Moray from the Conservatives, and Midlothian Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath from Labour (formerly held by Prime Minister Gordon Brown).

In Wales, Plaid Cyrmu’s 2017 gain from the Liberal Democrats in Ceredigion looks set to be reversed, with the Liberal Democrats also looking set to win the Conservative safe seat of Brecon and Radnorshire.

With Brecon’s MP, Chris Davies, facing a recall petition and a possible by-election, this could trigger alarm bells for the Conservatives.

For UKIP, their best result could be in Thurrock, where they could expect to challenge the Conservatives for second place, but the seat is expected to be won by Labour.

Meanwhile, the Greens are expected from this poll to further extend their support in Brighton Pavilion, with a projected majority of over 34 percent. Although they aren’t expected to make any gains, they could overtake Labour into second place in the Isle of Wight, with just over 22 percent.