Prime Minister Keir Starmer has blamed Brexit for Labour's poor performance in the local elections, vowing to forge closer ties with Europe as part of his fightback plan. In his first major interview since the party lost over 1,400 council seats and control of 37 councils in England, Starmer told the Sunday Mirror he would be “full-throated” about the need for closer relations with Brussels.
Starmer insisted he would lead Labour into the next general election, describing his strategy as a “decade of national renewal”. He said the plan would focus on “hope and opportunity of a better future, part of which is a stronger economy”. He added: “We have to be closer to Europe, and I just want to be full-throated about this.”
The prime minister highlighted a proposed youth experience scheme, allowing young EU and British citizens to work and study in each other's countries. “I feel that Brexit has held back our young people,” he said. “They should be free to work, study, travel in European countries, just as I was able to when I was growing up. That has been smashed away from young people because of Brexit.”
Starmer faces a leadership challenge from former Foreign Office minister Catherine West, who told The Independent she would launch a bid unless the Cabinet ushers him out. Around 30 Labour backbenchers have publicly suggested he should quit. Starmer said he would not walk away from the job he was elected to do in July 2024.
Labour lost control of councils to Reform UK in Leave-voting areas such as St Helens and Sunderland, while the Green Party made gains in London, taking control of Lewisham, Hackney, and Waltham Forest. Starmer dismissed the threat from smaller parties, saying: “There aren’t many people who actually want Zack Polanski or Nigel Farage as prime minister.”
