Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing an intense leadership crisis after Labour suffered a catastrophic electoral defeat in its traditional heartlands, with Nigel Farage's Reform UK making stunning gains across England and Wales.
Speaking after the results, Sir Keir acknowledged the pain but insisted he would not walk away from his job. 'The results are tough, they are very tough, and there's no sugar-coating it,' he said. 'I take responsibility, but tough days like this strengthen my resolve to deliver the change I promised.'
However, even allies described the outcome as 'brutal' for Labour. First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan became the highest-profile casualty, failing to win a seat in the newly expanded Senedd as Plaid Cymru and Reform hammered Labour. She called on the Government to 'change course' and return to being 'the party of the working class.'
Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth is now set to become first minister after his party emerged as the largest in the Senedd, with Reform in second place and Labour reduced to a single-digit rump. In Scotland, the SNP looks set to continue in power, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar admitting his party 'didn't win the argument.'
Reform took Sunderland from Labour, a council that includes Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's Westminster seat. It also became the second-largest party in Tameside as Labour lost its majority in the Greater Manchester council after 47 years of uninterrupted control—the area includes former deputy leader Angela Rayner's constituency. In Barnsley, Reform ended more than 50 years of Labour rule, while in Leeds, Labour lost control as it shed 10 seats and Reform gained eight.
Mr Farage declared: 'We have absolutely torn the most massive historic chunk out of the Labour vote in the north of England. It's a big, big day for a complete reshaping of British politics.' Reform also won in Havering—its first London borough—and took Essex County Council from the Conservatives, as well as Suffolk.
Labour also suffered from voters switching to the Green Party, which defeated Labour mayors in Hackney and Lewisham, took control of Waltham Forest, and gained 17 seats in Manchester. Green Party representative Zack Polanski said of the two-party system: 'It is not just dying, it is dead and it is buried.'
With 103 of 136 English councils having declared full results, Labour had lost control of 20 councils and suffered a net loss of 667 seats. Reform gained control of eight councils and added 939 seats. The Conservatives lost five councils and 302 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats gained control of Portsmouth and added 48 seats. The Green Party took control of three councils and gained 160 councillors.
In Scotland, after 70 first-past-the-post results, the SNP had 55 seats, with the Liberal Democrats on six, the Conservatives on four, Labour on three, and the Scottish Greens on two. In Wales, Plaid Cymru have 43 seats, Reform 34, Labour nine, the Conservatives seven, the Greens two, and the Liberal Democrats one.
Former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh told ITV Calendar: 'Unless the Government delivers significant and urgent change, the Prime Minister cannot lead us into another election.' Richard Burgon, leader of the Socialist Campaign Group, demanded Sir Keir set a timetable for departure, saying: 'It is clear that Keir has fought his last election as Labour leader.'
Unison general secretary Andrea Egan warned: 'Labour faces political oblivion because it's simply not delivering for the majority of people. There'll clearly be a change of Labour leader sooner or later.'
However, an apparent co-ordinated campaign to shore up support for Sir Keir saw ministers and Labour grandees warn against a disruptive leadership contest. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the results 'brutal' but said 'the last thing we need is to descend into a vanity leadership contest.'
