Reform UK has taken control of two councils from Labour following Thursday's local elections, dealing a significant blow to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.
Sunderland City Council
The party secured 39 seats on Sunderland City Council, ending Labour's 50-year dominance in the city. Among those who lost their seats were former Labour council leader Graeme Miller and Conservative group leader Antony Mullen.
Newly elected Washington North councillor Paul Donaghy told the BBC that "this is the start" for Reform in Sunderland, adding that the party's gains are "not a flash in the pan."
Thurrock Council
Reform also won Thurrock in Essex, taking 28 of the first 32 seats declared. The victories underscore a growing trend of voters turning away from the traditional parties.
The results are seen as a humiliating defeat for Labour, which had held both councils for decades. Political analysts describe the outcome as a "seismic shift" in British politics, with Reform UK emerging as a formidable force.
