The Tories suffer from a competitive political landscape, writes BBC political editor Chris Mason.
The Conservatives have had a miserable time in England's local elections.
Memories of it for many seem to have retreated sufficiently far into the rear-view mirror that it is no longer a drag anchor on their prospects.This was the Green Party's best ever set of local election results.The only Conservative comfort blanket on an otherwise cold night for them is the scale of a bounce back Labour has to make to win a general election.
They argue this week's results show, for them, a much better distribution of their vote in places they need to beat the Conservatives - including good performances in places that voted to leave the EU and places with smaller proportions of graduates.Those around Prime Minister Rishi Sunak say he has done much to steady the Tory ship and the party would be in a far worse state without him.
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