Little sign that Sunak will tack towards centre after local elections rout

PM and allies are seemingly intent on staying the course in face of conflicting calls on how to avoid wipeout when country goes to polls

As the terrible council and mayoral results rolled in for Rishi Sunak’s party on Friday night, was there any part of the prime minister that regretted sealing Boris Johnson’s fate as prime minister by resigning as his chancellor less than two years ago?

This could have been Johnson’s defeat, hurtling towards a Labour landslide at a general election, with Sunak and his allies plotting how to replace him thereafter.