Labour suffered heavy losses in England's local elections, with Reform UK making significant gains in pro-Brexit areas such as Sunderland and Hartlepool. The party lost control of at least 15 councils and more than 1,000 councillors, with some analysts describing it as potentially the worst result for Labour in 50 years. The Welsh parliament also fell to Plaid Cymru, while results in Scotland were disappointing.
Despite the poor performance, a direct challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership has not yet emerged. Former cabinet minister Lou Haigh urged Starmer to set a timetable for his departure, and several MPs called for him to go. The Mainstream group, which supports Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, demanded an “orderly transition” before the next election. However, Burnham himself remained silent, and key figures such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former deputy PM Angela Rayner have not made a move.
Starmer's allies, including Steve Reed, Liz Kendall and John Healey, have publicly backed him. Senior Labour figures like Pat McFadden, Lisa Nandy and Jonathan Reynolds have stayed quiet. Behind the scenes, MPs are frustrated but acknowledge there is no clear mechanism to remove Starmer, and the results are not catastrophic enough to force his resignation.
Starmer has been preparing for this moment for months and has made clear he will not step down or set an exit date. Special advisers have been recalled to Downing Street to shore up support and prevent plotting. The prime minister plans a speech next week, which is expected to be seen as another reset.
Polling experts revised down their initial predictions of up to 2,000 councillor losses to around 1,200, providing some relief. Labour held off Liberal Democrat challenges in Merton and retained control in Lincoln, Plymouth and Reading. The Green Party made gains but did not achieve the feared sweep across London, winning mayoralties in Hackney and Lewisham.
