IDS hails ‘spectacular’ success
Despite a front-bench resignation, Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith has hailed Thursday night as a ‘spectacular’ success for his party.
His comments come after the Tories managed to win 500 seats and a 34 per cent share of the popular vote.
In a statement, Mr Duncan Smith said that: ‘This is a spectacular victory for the tens of thousands of local Conservatives who have campaigned tirelessly on local issues across the country.’
‘The Labour Party has had their worst result since the Winter of Discontent in 1979. The Conservatives are now the largest party of local government in Great Britain. More and more people are recognising that Conservatives provide better services and still manage to charge lower taxes – a fair deal for everyone.’
However, his critics refused to be silenced and front-bencher Crispin Blunt called for the resignation of Tory leader in his resignation speech.
Those firmly planted within the anti-IDS campaign are arguing that the ‘success’ of Thursday night is actually a failure in comparison to the Tories’ local success in 1999 when they gained 1,300 seats and took 39 per cent of the vote.
Despite his critics, Duncan Smith was confident enough to yesterday place a £120 bet on becoming Prime Minister at the next election.
