Disastrous results for Labour at the local elections have intensified debates over the direction of the party, but which way should it lean? Political correspondent Athena Stavrou examines where Sir Keir Starmer is losing voters.
Starmer Under Pressure After Labour's Election Defeats
Sir Keir Starmer faces calls to resign or drastically shake up his government after the Labour Party suffered bruising defeats in the local council, Scottish, and Welsh elections on Thursday. While some counts are still being declared, Labour has lost control of at least 35 councils across England, with 1,442 party councillors losing their seats, including in historically safe strongholds. Sir Keir's party also lost in Wales after 27 years in power, with First Minister Eluned Morgan ousted from her seat, while the SNP claimed victory once again in Scotland. The party's grip on the capital has been severely weakened, with Labour losing control of nearly half of the 21 boroughs they previously held in London.
The results have intensified debates within the Labour Party about which direction it should take to survive a general election. Labour has lost votes to both the Greens on the left and Reform UK on the right, with some questioning which one poses the biggest threat. Some within Labour urge the party to stop moving too far to the right to appeal to Reform UK voters, which leaves more left-wing supporters turning to the Greens. Others believe the party is not doing enough to appease voters in traditional heartlands now supporting Nigel Farage's party. Here we examine what the election results reveal about whether Labour's biggest threat is the Green Party or Reform UK.
England
After 131 of 136 English councils had declared results, Labour had a net loss of 34 authorities and 1,113 seats, while Reform had gained 14 councils and 1,318 seats. The Green Party had gained control of four councils and gained at least 331 councillors. In terms of councils taken directly from Labour, Reform posed the biggest threat after taking control of six. These included areas in traditional Labour strongholds such as Barnsley and St Helens. The party also achieved its first victory in London by gaining control of Havering, which previously was under no overall control.
Meanwhile, the Greens made historic gains in London, making a large dent in Labour's traditional grip over the city. Zoe Garbett became the UK's first directly elected Green mayor in Hackney, ending decades of Labour power in the position. Hours later, the party won another mayoralty in Lambeth. Labour lost three councils to the Greens, including Hackney, Waltham Forest, and Norwich. The Greens also swept up Hastings council, which was previously under no overall control.
Aside from councils that have directly changed hands, Labour also lost their majority in over 20 authorities, including Lambeth, where the Greens have eaten into their once strong grip of the council. In other places such as Leeds, Oxford, Swindon, and Birmingham, the councils have gone from Labour to no overall control, with Reform UK councillors forming the largest party.
Wales
The biggest threat to Labour in Wales was Plaid Cymru, which won the highest number of seats in the Senedd on Thursday. The results also indicate that Reform UK could pose a major threat to Labour at a general election in Wales, with the party gaining 34 seats. Meanwhile, Labour suffered a historic defeat in Wales as they lost power for the first time since the era of devolution began in 1999. The party lost 35 seats in the election, including Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan's seat.
Scotland
In Scotland, the results were slightly less bruising but still marked a disappointing loss for Labour, which had hoped to oust the SNP from power after over a decade. Both parties lost seats in Holyrood, with Labour dropping four and the SNP six. Meanwhile, Reform UK and the Green Party made some gains, with Nigel Farage's candidates winning 17 seats and the Greens gaining six.
What Might This Mean Nationally?
The outcome of these elections has prompted the Labour Party to look toward its chances at the next general election. According to Sky News, the number of projected seats in the Commons based on this week's votes would see Labour win just 110 seats, a huge loss from the 411 won in 2024. Meanwhile, Reform UK would win 284 seats, which would see them fall 42 seats short of a majority but still form the largest party in the chamber. The Greens are projected to win 13 seats, nine more than they currently have.
