‘It’s all over bar the voting’. That famous headline from 2002 in the Irish Republic is now being used by analysts and commentators in the aftermath of the English local elections, which saw massive losses for the Conservatives, with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens on the march.

Most striking was the failure of Reform to make any big inroads, electing just two councillors. Ironically, the party suffered the same fate as their Northern Ireland partner, the TUV. They got plenty of media attention and, in some places, a decent number of votes – but failed to make a breakthrough in winning seats.

For Rishi Sunak, the issue is when to take the plunge and call the general election.

• Brian Feeney: This disgraceful, corrupt, scandal-dogged, lying, dying British government just doesn’t careOpens in new window
• Tories may not win election, Sunak admits while claiming hung Parliament likelyOpens in new window
• Tory rebel Braverman urges Sunak to change course after election blowsOpens in new window

Should he go in early July? Or wait until the middle of November? Sunak will have to........

© The Irish News