Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on as prime minister despite early local election results showing heavy losses for Labour, many at the hands of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. The Labour leader struck a defiant note on Friday morning in the face of calls from some of his MPs to quit, insisting he remained determined to deliver on the promises on which he was elected less than two years ago.
With Labour having lost control of councils in its heartlands across northern England and the Midlands, Starmer faced calls to resign from Labour MPs including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash. Reform’s successes look set to confirm its place as England’s most popular party, underlining the decline of two-party domination in British politics.
Starmer admitted the results were tough, saying: “The results are tough, they are very tough, and there’s no sugarcoating it. We have lost brilliant Labour representatives across the country. That hurts, and it should hurt, and I take responsibility.” He added: “I accept that the results reflect voters don’t feel that their lives have changed enough or quickly enough. We were elected to deal with that, and I’m not going to walk away from that responsibility and plunge the country into chaos.”
By Friday morning, Labour had lost about half the council seats it was contesting, losing control of councils in Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth. Some of the biggest losses came in the “red wall” former industrial seats. However, the party proved more resilient in London, retaining control in Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham, though losing Wandsworth and Westminster.
Brash told the Guardian: “I think the very best thing the prime minister could do now is address the nation tomorrow and set out a timetable for his departure.” McDonnell said: “The party needs to consider why we are in this situation … The leadership question has inevitably to be on the agenda.” However, David Lammy said: “You don’t change the pilot during a flight,” and John Healey said: “I think he can still deliver, he can still turn it round.”
Reform leaders were jubilant, having won 327 seats and taken control of their first London council in Havering. Farage said: “It’s a big, big day, not just for our party, but for a complete reshaping of British politics.” The Conservatives also faced heavy losses, confirming the splintering of the British electorate.
