Sir Keir Starmer has issued a final plea to voters ahead of Thursday's local elections, as Labour braces for significant losses that could threaten his leadership. The prime minister, who has been largely absent from the campaign trail, urged voters to choose "unity over division" against Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Green Party, both expected to make sweeping gains.
Labour's Dire Polling
An eve-of-election YouGov poll shows Reform leading with 25 percent, Labour trailing at 18 percent, and the Conservatives at 17 percent. In Scotland, Labour risks falling to third place behind the SNP and Reform, while in Wales, Plaid Cymru is poised to take control of the Senedd, with Labour in third. In London, the Greens are expected to make significant inroads at Labour's expense despite ongoing controversies over antisemitism.
Internal Party Strife
Starmer's appeal is also seen as a message to his own party, with rivals like Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting reportedly preparing for a potential leadership challenge. Welsh Labour leader Baroness Eluned Morgan has publicly blamed Starmer for the party's expected loss of control in Wales for the first time since 1999. Starmer has vowed to fight any leadership contest.
Starmer's Final Message
In his eve-of-poll statement, Starmer said: "Today, when you put your vote in the ballot box, you face a clear choice. Progress and a better future for the community you call home, with a Labour council working with a Labour government. Versus the anger and division offered up by Reform or empty promises from the Greens." He added: "Back action to ease the cost of living. Back our NHS. Back a better future for your local community. Today, choose unity over division. Vote Labour."
Other Party Leaders
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch braced for losses of up to 600 council seats but insisted she was leading a "new party." She said: "Under my leadership the Conservative Party has changed. We know where we went wrong and we're fixing it." Reform's Nigel Farage urged voters to back his party to remove Starmer, saying: "The only way to finally remove the most unpopular and unpatriotic prime minister in our lifetime is to back Reform." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey warned of Reform's "chaos," saying: "We've now seen what Reform looks like in power – banning journalists, scrapping renewables, closing care homes and raising council tax despite their promises."
Controversies
Zack Polanski faced questions over his readiness to be prime minister, admitting on Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm not ready right now." He also apologised after the British Red Cross challenged his claim of being a spokesperson for the charity. Meanwhile, Reform UK faced fresh revelations that more council candidates support far-right activist Tommy Robinson and have made Islamophobic, racist, and homophobic remarks. A party spokesperson said the allegations were being investigated.
