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The Tories have lost control of a flagship council just weeks before the local elections.

Conservatives' grip on Barnet - which a shock poll has predicted could go to Labour in May - slipped away after a councillor resigned.

Sury Khatri's departure from the Conservative Group, which comes after he was deselected by his local party, cut the number of Tories on the 63-strong council to 31.

That means there is now "no overall control" of the London town hall - with Labour's 30 councillors snapping at the Conservatives' heels.

Barnet became known as "easyCouncil" for its no frills model after the Tories in the town hall outsourced services to to private firm Capita.

That has made it a prime target for campaigning by Labour.

Research last month suggested it would be one of three London boroughs to fall from Tory control in May's local elections, alongside Wandsworth and Westminster.

(Image: PA)

YouGov polling for Queen Mary University of London claimed Labour enjoy the support of 54% of Londoners, compared to just 28% for the Tories.

That would give them the highest vote share any party has achieved in London council elections since 1968.

All 32 London boroughs will hold elections on Thursday 3 May and all 63 seats on Barnet are up for grabs.

Non-London council elections, some of them for only half or a third of the town hall, are also happening in 119 other local authorities across England on the same day.

And there will be six mayoral elections in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Watford, Tower Hamlets (all Greater London) and Sheffield City Region.

Mr Khatri told the Independent he had been treated "despicably", adding: "After eight years of service to be treated in this manner is unacceptable.

"As far as I understand there has not been single complaint about the manner in which I have helped the local community."

A Barnet Council spokesman said: "We can confirm that Cllr Khatri has notified the council of his resignation from the Conservative Group and that he will continue as an Independent Member.

"The Conservative Group remain the majority Group although they no longer have the overall majority of Members."

There is also one Lib Dem on Barnet Council.