Greg Hands has warned the Conservative Party faces a "difficult" set of local election results in May as the new Tory chairman attempted to managed expectations on his first full day in the job. 

He told Times Radio: "I think they will be difficult local elections this year for the party but I know we have got fantastic candidates, fantastic councillors, fantastic candidates for mayors across the country who are working really hard. 

"I am somebody who has spent a long time as a Conservative activist, as a councillor myself so I know exactly what it is like in a time when the national party is not as popular as we would like it to be. 

"My job is to deliver the best possible set of results, obviously there will be a lot of local factors going on up and down the country that our councillors and candidates are rightly campaigning on. It will be a difficult set of elections but I am still confident that we will do well."

Greg Hands, the new chairman of the Conservative Party, has vowed to make the Tories "battle ready" ahead of the next general election which he suggested will take place "next year". 

Asked if Tory chairman is currently one of the hardest jobs in politics, Mr Hands told Times Radio: "Well, I don’t know about it being the hardest job but it certainly is a very exciting job. 

"We have got 15 to 20 months or thereabouts until the next general election, so a great chance to get the party battle ready for what will be a big contest next year against Sir Keir Starmer’s unreformed Labour Party. 

"I think it is a great opportunity, a great job, I was delighted when Rishi asked me to do it."