Keir Starmer has vowed to remain as prime minister despite heavy losses in local elections, with Labour losing control of councils in its heartlands and Reform UK making significant gains. Early results show Labour lost about half the council seats it contested, including in Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth, prompting calls from some Labour MPs for Starmer to resign.
Speaking on Friday morning, Starmer admitted the results were “tough” and said he took responsibility, but insisted he would not walk away from his responsibilities. “I accept that the results reflect voters don’t feel that their lives have changed enough or quickly enough,” he said. “We were elected to deal with that, and I’m not going to plunge the country into chaos.”
Labour MPs including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash publicly called for Starmer to step down. Brash urged the prime minister to set out a timetable for his departure to allow an orderly transition. However, senior figures such as Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey backed Starmer, with Healey saying he could still turn things around.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, celebrated winning 327 seats and taking control of its first London council in Havering. Farage described the results as “a big, big day” for a reshaping of British politics. The Conservatives also suffered heavy losses, though they regained Westminster council from Labour and held off Reform in Bexley.
Labour performed better in London, retaining control in Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham, but lost Wandsworth and Westminster. The results underscore the decline of two-party dominance and the rise of Reform as a major force, with the party now appearing as England’s most popular.
