Labour is facing the prospect of a near-wipeout in Birmingham at the local elections, according to a poll. Research by More in Common suggests the party's dominance of the city council will come to a shocking end after today's vote.
Labour could lose 51 of its current tally of 65 seats, with Reform the biggest beneficiary. Nigel Farage's insurgents could make an extraordinary jump from zero councillors at the last contest in 2022 to 47 this time. Meanwhile, the public could install 17 independents, including pro-Gaza candidates.
Such an outcome would heap pressure on Keir Starmer, who is bracing for grim results across England, as well as in Scottish and Welsh Parliamentary elections. The PM has been scrambling to put together a survival strategy to head off any coup attempt from angry MPs.
The Birmingham authority has faced fury about the long-running bin strike causing misery for residents. It has also been wrestling to fill a vast financial black hole fueled by a huge equal pay liability admission in 2023. That resulted in services cuts and a 17.5 per cent council tax hike over the past two years.
Labour's council leader John Cotton has insisted the financial crisis is now under control and claimed an end to the bin dispute is 'within sight', as he attempted to limit the electoral damage.
The More in Common survey found 26 per cent support for Reform and 23 per cent for Labour. The Greens were seen as having the backing of 18 per cent, the Tories 15 per cent, independents 12 per cent and the Lib Dems 7 per cent. However, the study suggested that Labour's vote would not be efficiently distributed across council wards, meaning they will get a lower proportion of the 101 seats. It would be the lowest number of councillors the party has ever held in the city.
