This morning Britain's Conservative PartyA British political party. Members are known as Tories. politicians woke to the news that their party has lost hundreds of councillorsMembers of councils, such as town councils, that run a town. across the country. Yesterday, millions voted in local elections, as well as for the London mayor.

By 7.30am, the Conservatives had already lost 122 council seats.

The problem the party has is that they are losing seats on their left, to LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. and the Liberal DemocratsAlso known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK. , and on their right, to Reform UKA right-wing populist party in the UK. It has support from Nigel Farage and used to be called the Brexit Party.. 

The next general electionIn the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years. is coming up later this year, although we do not know the exact date yet.

Most people expect the LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. party, led by Keir StarmerThe leader of the UK Labour Party since 2020 and British prime minister since July 2024., to win. But some Conservatives worry that they may not even be the second-biggest party. Some think Reform UKA right-wing populist party in the UK. It has support from Nigel Farage and used to be called the Brexit Party. could take that spot.

The Conservatives have been in power for 14 years. Can prime minister Rishi Sunak turn things around?

The evidence suggests that the country is fed up with the Conservatives and want to give it a good electoral kicking.

A poll last year found 57% of people think the ToriesThe Tory Party was the former name of the Conservative Party. The phrase is still used to refer to Conservatives.  cannot run the country well.

However, today's voters are more likely to change their minds than in the past. It is not impossible that they could be persuaded back.

On the other hand, that also means still more of them could flee the Conservatives.

The big hope for the Tories is that the man who would replace them, Keir Starmer, is not popular either. Even though his party is doing, nearly half of people say he is doing a bad job as Labour leader.

Is the world's most successful political party facing extinction?

Yes! The only way is down for the Conservatives. People are not happy with how they have been running Britain. They will lose most of their seats in the House of CommonsThe democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament.  later this year.

No! The Conservative Party will bounce back. This is not their first time in a bad spot. And Reform UK never does as well in elections as it does in the pollsWhen people are asked what their opinion is on a certain topic or who they are voting for in an election. .

Conservative party - A British political party. Members are known as Tories.

Councillors - Members of councils, such as town councils, that run a town.

Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.

Liberal Democrats - Also known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK.

Reform UK - A right-wing populist party in the UK. It has support from Nigel Farage and used to be called the Brexit Party.

General election - In the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years.

Keir Starmer - The leader of the UK Labour Party since 2020 and British prime minister since July 2024.

Tories - The Tory Party was the former name of the Conservative Party. The phrase is still used to refer to Conservatives. 

House of Commons - The democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament. 

Polls - When people are asked what their opinion is on a certain topic or who they are voting for in an election.