New Tory party chair Greg Hands says English local elections will be ‘difficult’ - The Guardian

The new Conservative party chair, Greg Hands, has said this year’s local elections in England will be difficult but that the Tories are in “overall good shape”, with Lee Anderson a man of “great integrity” working as his deputy.

Hands, who was promoted to Nadhim Zahawi’s former role in Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle on Tuesday, also said his party would have a “really good story to tell” at next year’s general election.

Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, told Sky News: “We’ve obviously got difficult local elections this year.

Hands said he refused to get into a “running commentary” on Anderson’s comments, telling Times Radio: “He is a man of great integrity.

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Senior Tories in local government expect a trouncing, given the strain on public services and councils against a backdrop of the highest tax levels in decades.