The Conservative Party's candidate secured 7.7% of the vote in the recent Greater Manchester mayoral byelection, placing them fifth. This result follows a contest where Labour took 47% of the vote and Reform UK came in second with 21%.
In previous Greater Manchester mayoral contests, the Conservative Party had consistently held second place. This time, they finished behind Restore Britain, a party described as being of the hard right.
Separately, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has announced a pledge to evict nearly 230,000 non-EU foreign national households from council housing. This announcement came as the Norfolk town of Thetford experienced its third night of violence and disorder.
Earlier, Badenoch defended the selection of Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a Somerset council candidate. Bonehill-Paine, who has served jail sentences for antisemitic harassment, later withdrew his candidacy but will reportedly serve as an adviser to the party.