The elections are being viewed as a bellwether for the next general election, and the fear of "complete annihilation" could lead to further rebellion within the party.

Experts predict that the Tories could lose up to half of their contested seats.

One moderate Tory MP admits that colleagues are feeling restless and that the party needs to show signs of turning things around to avoid a total wipeout.

The text discusses the Conservative Party's poor performance in local elections in 2025, with losses in areas that could impact the general election outcome.

The losses are significant as they occurred when Boris Johnson was still popular and the government had not been affected by major scandals or budget issues.

A senior Tory believes that these losses, particularly in swing voter areas like Milton Keynes, Dudley, and Thurrock, could push some Conservative MPs to consider leaving the party.

The MP finds it challenging to defend their seats when their local associations have been severely impacted.

The text suggests that MPs (Members of Parliament) are not directly affected by the upcoming local elections, drawing a comparison to the Battle of the Somme where generals were in charge while soldiers bore the brunt of the fighting.

Despite expecting losses of around 500 council seats, Tory MPs are concerned about the potential defeat of their metro mayors, Andy Street in the West Midlands and Ben Houchen in Tees Valley.

The outcome of these races could determine if Rishi Sunak's (Prime Minister) losses are just significant or catastrophic.