Eluned Morgan, the Welsh first minister, has lost her seat in a devastating election for Labour, as the party faces near-wipeout in Wales. Morgan called on Keir Starmer to 'go back to being the party of the working class' after Plaid Cymru became the largest party in the Senedd, with Reform UK in second place. Labour is on course to lose control of the Welsh parliament for the first time since devolution.
Senior Labour MPs are urging Starmer to agree a timetable for his departure within a year, following a crushing defeat in local elections across Britain. Labour lost control of more than 25 English councils and over 1,000 council seats by Friday night, many to Nigel Farage's Reform UK. In London, the Greens made gains, taking control of Hackney and Waltham Forest, while Labour also lost Brent.
Louise Haigh, a former cabinet minister, was the first to break cover, saying 'unless the government delivers significant and urgent change, then the prime minister cannot lead us into another election.' One senior backbencher said they want Starmer to agree a 'dignified' exit, with his last conference this autumn and a leadership contest immediately after.
Starmer insisted he 'won't walk away' as doing so would 'plunge the party into chaos', but acknowledged voters are fed up with the slow pace of change. Downing Street sources said he will deliver a major speech next week to set out a more optimistic vision, and the king's speech on Wednesday will include policy announcements. A cabinet reshuffle is not expected.
Farage declared a 'truly historic shift in British politics' after Reform UK won hundreds of seats and control of more councils, including in Essex where Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has her constituency. The SNP's John Swinney declared victory in Holyrood, though he is expected to fall short of an outright majority, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar conceded defeat, citing 'national dissatisfaction' with Starmer.
The Greens gained their first two directly elected mayors in Hackney and Lewisham, and won three councils: Norwich, Hastings and Waltham Forest. The Tories lost hundreds of seats to Reform and the Liberal Democrats but won back Westminster council, with Badenoch saying the party is 'coming back'. Allies of potential leadership rivals Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham said they would keep their counsel for now.
