Senior Tories predict a loss at the Blackpool by-election as counting begins

Senior Tories predict they will lose the Blackpool South by-election as counting begins.

Sources told Sky News political correspondent Tamara Cohen that they “didn’t expect” to retain the seat – which they won in 2019 with a majority of 3,690.

And they said the “stars couldn’t be more aligned” after the scandals faced by local MPs.

Watch live: Tories brace for potentially difficult evening in local elections

The by-election was called after former Conservative MP Scott Benton was caught in a sting by the Times newspaper. suggesting he was willing to break lobbying rules for money.

As a result, he was suspended from the House of Commons for 35 days, meaning he faced a recall petition in his constituency.

But rather than be removed from his seat, Mr Benton resigned from parliament, leading to a vote for a new MP.

In an extra painful twist for the Tories, the candidate who would replace him, David Jones, was unveiled as chairman of the Fylde Conservatives – the area represented by the latest scandal hit MP Mark Menzies.

Mr Menzies then made headlines claims he misused campaign funds – including calling a member of the local association to say he had been locked in a flat by “bad people” and needed £5,000 as a matter of “life and death”.

Mr Jones denied knowing anything about the incident – which was said to have been reported to the Conservative Party three months ago – until it was revealed in the media.

Follow our live coverage of the election results from midnight – find full details here.