Nigel Farage expressed hope that Keir Starmer would remain as prime minister, calling him Reform UK's 'biggest asset' during the local elections that appeared to signal the end of two-party politics. The results showed five parties now competing in England, with Labour and the Conservatives left in ruins.
Farage was seen gloating in Havering, where Reform won its first London council seat, despite his party's percentage of the vote actually decreasing from the previous year. He claimed Reform had 'professionalised' and urged people not to expect too much from Reform councils, adding, 'He's the biggest asset we have,' referring to Starmer.
Labour and Tories Struggle
Keir Starmer appeared exhausted during an interview with Sky's Beth Rigby, admitting it had been a 'tough, tough night' but insisting he would not walk away, stating, 'Voters have sent us a message that they want change.' However, he offered no specifics on what that change might entail.
Early Labour voices on news channels included John McDonnell and Ian Lavery, with Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash calling for Starmer to stand down after his wife lost her council seat. Yvette Cooper later appeared on the BBC, offering vague support for Starmer and equivocating on a possible return of Andy Burnham to Westminster.
For the Conservatives, James Cleverly defended the party's performance, claiming they were 'holding the government to account' despite becoming relevant only in London and the home counties. Kemi Badenoch celebrated winning Westminster and Wandsworth, though she had not yet realised the latter was not actually won by the Tories.
Lib Dems and Greens
Ed Davey celebrated becoming 'supreme leader' of Richmond upon Thames, where the Liberal Democrats won all 54 seats. The Green Party's Zack Polanski celebrated winning the Hackney mayoralty but had little to say on why his party underperformed overall.
In Wales, Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies conceded defeat before any votes were counted, highlighting the broader Labour struggles across the UK.
The election night also saw a tense exchange on BBC between Robert Jenrick and Victoria Atkins, with Jenrick refusing to engage after his defection to Reform. Atkins sobbed, 'I thought we were friends,' but Jenrick offered only a cold 'tough' in response.
With results still coming in, the focus remains on Labour and Starmer's leadership. Key figures like Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, and Wes Streeting have not yet made their moves, leading to a high-stakes game of chicken over who will challenge Starmer first.
