Labour is on course to suffer its worst result in opposition for 34 years at the local elections, one of Britain’s most respected polling experts has warned.

The party will lose 170 councillors and control of a string of councils if people vote as the polls currently suggest, according to analysis by Prof John Curtice for The Telegraph.

Labour moderates warned the result would be a “tragedy” and that the party leadership would have to “take some responsibility” for the losses.