Former Tory Grantham and Stamford MP votes Labour for first time since 1997

Former Conservative minister Nick Boles – a senior aide to prime minister Boris Johnson during his time as London mayor – revealed that he voted Labour for the first time since Tony Blair’s 1997 general election landslide.

Mr Boles, a former MP for Grantham and Stamford who left the Conservative Party in 2019, tweeted: “First time I’ve voted Labour since an equally glorious May morning in 1997.”

He served as Minister of State for skills in David Cameron's government, between 2014 and 2016, and was a former director of the Policy Exchange, a right of centre think tank.

He also held a position on Westminster City Council in London - which the Tories lost control of today for the first time since 1964.

Mr Boles's revelation could well trouble the Prime Minister, who will anxiously be watching counts across the country as an indication of voter support for the Conservative party.

In the Midlands, the Conservatives lost Worcester City Council, as well as losing seats in Derby, Coventry and Redditch - with many votes yet to be counted.