Senior Conservative MPs have expressed fears of an internal " meltdown " and a potential leadership challenge to prime minister Theresa May , should the upcoming local council elections go badly for the government . One former Cabinet minister has said the local elections are " likely to be very bad " while adding : " If it 's a complete meltdown , then I think there will be a leadership challenge " . However , the former minister cautioned that without an obvious successor candidate , the prospects of a serious challenge remain unlikely . The party will be defending 1,302 seats and control of 39 councils on 3 May.
Senior Conservative MPs have expressed fears of an internal "meltdown" and a potential leadership challenge to Prime Minister Theresa May, should the upcoming local council elections go badly for the government. One former Cabinet minister has said the local elections are "likely to be very bad" while adding: "If it's a complete meltdown, then I think there will be a leadership challenge". However, the former minister cautioned that without an obvious successor candidate, the prospects of a serious challenge remain unlikely. The Conservatives will be defending 1,302 seats and control of 39 councils on 3 May.