Rishi Sunak has been handed a major boost as Lord Ben Houchen wins his third successive term as Tees Valley Mayor.
Houchen, who was accused of distancing himself from CCHQ during the campaign, celebrated victory as his support drastically dropped from 72.8 per cent to just 53.6 per cent.
Despite Labour recording an early morning triumph in Hartlepool Council's vote, the Conservative mayoral candidate managed to see off Labour rival Chris McEwan as he maintained a strong personal approval rating in the local area.
McEwan received 41.3 per cent of the vote and Liberal Democrat candidate Simon Thorley languished behind in a distant third place on just five per cent.
Ben Houchen re-elected as Tees Valley Mayor in much needed win for Tories after catastrophic night
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Tees Valley, which covers Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool, was once a solidly Labour-voting part of the Red Wall.
Houchen, who was not wearing a Conservative Party rosette during his victory speech, said: “I am absolutely humbled by everybody that voted for me.
"Teesside is a place where I was born, I grew up, other than a very short sabbatical to Newcastle for four years and then I came straight back, it is a place where I am going to be for the rest of my life.
“And to be re-elected for a third term in my home, in my community, is absolutely the greatest honour that anybody could ever give me.”
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Lord Houchen, Mayor of the Tees Valley won re-election
PAHowever, Houchen's victory also provides Sunak with a potential political lifeline.
Tory rebels were expected to capitalise on a disastrous set of results to put pressure on the Prime Minister to quit ahead of the general election.
Early results from the local elections looked likely to heap even more pressure on Sunak, with the Tory Party already registering 150 net losses.
However, Sunak's critics were dealt an light blow when Reform UK fell agonisingly short of overtaking the Tories in Blackpool South.
Boris Johnson leaving his London homePAVictory in Tees Valley was quickly seized upon and the Prime Minister will hope Andy Street also clings on in the West Midlands.
Despite being considered as electoral silver-linings from yesterday's local elections, Houchen and Street have unapologetically distanced themselves from Sunak.
Both men turned to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson ahead of polls opening.
Johnson, who yesterday hit the headlines for forgeting his voter ID, provided unequivocal support for the pair.
In a letter sent to voters across the West Midlands, the ex-Prime Minister said: “Forget about the Government.
"Forget about Westminster. The election is about the next four years in the West Midlands — and who do you want in charge."
