Keir Starmer has vowed to continue as prime minister despite early local election results showing heavy losses for Labour, many to Reform UK. The prime minister admitted the results were 'tough' but insisted he would not walk away from his responsibility, saying he was 'as determined as ever' to deliver on his promises.
Labour lost control of councils in Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth, with about half of the seats it was contesting lost by Friday morning. The losses were particularly heavy in former 'red wall' areas, while the party fared better in London, retaining Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham but losing Wandsworth and Westminster.
Calls for Starmer to resign came from Labour MPs including John McDonnell and Jonathan Brash. Brash suggested the prime minister should set out a timetable for departure, while McDonnell said the leadership question was 'inevitably on the agenda'. However, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said 'you don't change the pilot during a flight', and Defence Secretary John Healey expressed confidence Starmer could turn things round.
Reform UK celebrated significant gains, winning 327 seats and taking control of its first London council in Havering. Party leader Nigel Farage called it 'a big, big day' for a 'complete reshaping of British politics'. The Conservatives also suffered heavy losses, though they regained Westminster council from Labour.
Some Labour figures urged a reset. West Midlands mayor Richard Parker called for 'a reset and a refocus', while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham pulled out of a scheduled event, with a source indicating he did not want to comment on the elections.
