To finally put the nail in the coffin of that "projected national share" the Conservative Party leadership is using it's modeled seat totals to convince their MPs, in reaction to the West Midlands, to stay the course. But nobody is buying it cause everyone knows the model is a BS exercise.
Also buried below the mayoral declarations Reform ended up with a London Council seat in the city-wide PR allocation.
Don't interrupt the enemy when it makes a mistake, this is one of those cases.
If they believe they are fine and should hold course, let them believe so.