Voters go to the polls as grassroot Torys distance themselves from Johnson

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( May 05, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Boris Johnson hit by grassroots Tory revolt over Partygate as voters go to the polls]( [Boris Johnson]( has suffered a grassroots Tory revolt [on the eve of crucial local elections](, while being warned that he faces fresh questions about his leadership as soon as the results are in. As millions were set to go to the polls, some party candidates took the extraordinary step [of rebranding themselves “local Conservatives”](, pleading with voters not to “punish” them for the [Partygate]( scandal. The leader of one grassroots Tory group told The Independent that anger about the No 10 parties, topped up by fears over rising living costs, pointed to the party’s supporters staying at home on Thursday. More than 4,350 seats are being contested in England on over 140 councils. All of Scotland's 32 councils and all 22 councils in Wales are also holding local elections.   2 / [Local elections 2022: When to expect the results]( Results will begin trickling in from the early hours of Friday morning 3 / [Ukraine: ‘Difficult, bloody battles’ underway at Mariupol steelworks]( ‘Putin must pay a high price for his brutal aggression,’ European Commission president says 4 / [Wayne Couzens appeals whole-life prison sentence for murdering Sarah Everard]( Prosecution says rare term justified in ‘wholly exceptional case’ 5 / [Shell profits nearly triple to £7.2billion as fuel prices surge]( The oil giant has reported its highest ever quarterly profits     The Big Question What do you need to know for the local elections? The latest round of local elections takes place in the UK today, with 4,000 council seats in England being contested, 1,200 in both Scotland and Wales and all 90 seats of the Northern Ireland Assembly in contention. Most of those seats were last fought in 2018, when Theresa May was still prime minister, Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Vince Cable were her challengers, Britain was still in the European Union and both the coronavirus pandemic and war in Ukraine were inconceivable to most. Now, with lingering anger over “Partygate” compounded by the eruption of new Westminster sleaze allegations and concern over the cost of living crisis only growing, the public is widely expected to cast its ballots as a verdict on Boris Johnson’s scandal-ridden leadership. [Read the full story >](   Watch/ [Amber Heard accuses Depp of performing a cavity search on her searching for cocaine](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 5 – The number of times Caroline Henry, Tory police and crime commissioner for Nottinghamshire Police, was caught breaking 30mph speed limits within a 12-week period after vowing to crack down on speeding in the county.   QUOTE OF THE DAY “Generally speaking, what people find is by going for some sort of value brand rather than own-branded products they can actually contain and manage their household budget.” – Environment secretary George Eustace offers his solution to the cost of living crisis.       Other stories you might like   [‘Staggering levels of deference’: What I learnt from watching TalkTV for a week](   [Real Madrid produce another sensational comeback to beat Man City and reach Champions League final](   [Martin Lewis condemns minister’s ‘patronising’ advice to buy value food brands amid cost-of-living crisis](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers Stuti Mishra, The Independent: [What Narendra Modi’s tour means for the world](   Other newsletters you might like [US morning headlines] US Morning Headlines Weekdays, 12pm (UK time) Written by Andrew Naughtie [Sign up]( [Climate warrior] Climate Warrior Every Wednesday, 8am (UK time) Written by climate activists [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.