Local elections roundup: Reform UK surges across Britain as Labour suffers historic defeats... but Keir Starmer REFUSES to stand down

Labour has suffered catastrophic losses across the country in a dismal night of local election results for Sir Keir Starmer, with Reform UK surging in councils.

Sir Keir's position in No10 is under intense pressure after an electoral mauling which saw Reform and Zack Polanski's Green Party making gains in some of Labour's heartlands, however, the Prime Minister insisted he is "not going to walk away."

In England, Reform won Sunderland, Thurrock, Essex, and Suffolk off Labour, while the Greens took Hackney, Norwich and Hastings.

It was a bleak night for Labour in Wales, with Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan failing to win a seat in the newly-expanded Senedd, with Plaid Cymru and Reform hammering Labour.

The Scottish National Party look set to continue in power in Holyrood, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar acknowledging his party "didn’t win the argument".

Reform took Sunderland from Labour, a council containing 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 an uninterrupted run of 47 years in charge. The area contains the parliamentary constituency of former deputy party leader Angela Rayner.

In Barnsley, Reform ended more than 50 years of Labour rule, in St Helens Mr Farage’s party took the council by gaining 31 seats as Labour lost 24, while in Leeds Labour lost control of the council as it lost 10 seats and Reform gained eight.

Mr Farage said: "We are directly taking votes from patriotic old Labour in areas that, frankly, they’ve been pretty much able to take for granted since the end of World War One."

In London, the Green Party defeated Labour mayors in Hackney and Lewisham and took control of Waltham Forest council.

Meanwhile, in Manchester Zack Polanski's party gained 17 seats, illustrating the threat they pose in Labour’s former urban strongholds.

Mr Polanski said: "Two-party politics is not just dying, it is dead and it is buried.

"Actually, whether it's here that Labour have been rejected, or whether we're seeing around the country, it's very clear that the new politics is the Green Party versus Reform."

The London Assembly member called for Sir Keir to stand down, saying the results from local elections so far show that the country has rejected the Labour leader.

He added: "My message to Keir Starmer is it’s time to go. The country has clearly rejected you. I think he’d been rejected before these elections even started.

"We had 14 years of Conservative austerity; Keir Starmer was voted in on a promise of change and, actually, what we’ve seen is very little change and in many ways things have got worse."

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Elsewhere, it was a positive night for the Liberal Democrats, as Sir Ed Davey's party gained more than 140 seats.

The Lib Dems took control of Stockport, Portsmouth, West Surrey, and East Surrey, while holding Eastleigh and Richmond-upon-Thames, where they won every single seat.

Sir Ed said: "It is clear the Conservatives have had a disaster and Labour have had a near extinction, but the populists of left and right have also done well. Congratulations to them. But the wild promises and the division of the populists are not the answer to Britain’s problems.

"We are the only non-populist party left standing, the only non-extremists to have made gains.

"We have a huge responsibility now to step up and be the rallying point for all in our country who hate extremism, hate division, want our country to be united and crave real hope, not false hope."

It was a more mixed bag for the Conservatives, as the Tories took control from Labour in Westminster, held on to their majority in Bexley and in Kensington and Chelsea, and become the biggest party in Wandsworth.

However, they have lost their majority at Hampshire County Council and all 20 seats in Sutton.

Reform UK overthrew the Conservatives at Essex County Council, which is Mrs Badenoch’s local authority, and at Suffolk County Council.

Harlow’s Conservative council leader hailed victory after his party succeeded in all 11 district council seats up for election in the town, gaining five from Labour and retaining control of the council. The Conservatives also held on to power at Broxbourne Council.

Speaking outside Westminster City Hall, Mrs Badenoch said: "I said that we were going to rebuild after our worst defeat ever and we can see those signs of renewal everywhere that we are standing.”

She later added: “Just two years ago, people were writing us off, saying that we were completely finished, and now we are winning Westminster...I’m very proud of how we have done.

“I’m not saying that we’re there yet. I’m not saying that the results are perfect. There are loads of councillors, Conservative councillors, who have lost their seat, but they can see that our strategy is working good.

"Strategy takes time. It doesn’t all happen overnight."

Another big winner of the night was Plaid Cymru, where party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth looks set to be the new first minister after his party became the largest in the Senedd.

In Wales, Reform finished second and Labour was reduced to a single-digit rump having dominated politics in Cardiff Bay since devolution.

While Mr Iap orweth's party did not win an overall majority, he added he intends to “reach out to others" with urgency and put his name forward to be nominated as the next first minister.

He said: "I’m grateful to everybody that took part in this election, and yes, different voices are represented in that overall result.

"But based on that vote, Plaid Cymru now stands ready to take the necessary steps to form the next government of Wales.

"This is a moment 100 years in the making, a moment in which we hold the promise and ambition of a nation in our hands, the promise of fairness, of opportunity, of prosperity, of a nation determined in its ambition and uncompromising in its compassion.”

He continued: "I will end with these words: Our nation deserves a government that will work with relentless determination to deliver on the things that matter most to you.

"We now focus on that task, and we do this for Wales. Dros Cymru. Diolch yn fawr."

Meanwhile, in Norfolk, a party linked to Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain won nine seats in Norfolk’s local elections, with Reform becoming the biggest party on the council overall.

Nigel Farage’s party were victorious in the east of England on Friday, as they gained 38 seats on Norfolk County Council, taking their total up to 40. However, this falls short of the 43 seats needed for a majority.

Following the elections on Thursday, the Liberal Democrats have 13 seats, the Green Party 12, and Mr Lowe’s Great Yarmouth First have nine.

Mr Lowe said : "History made. We won ten out of ten seats, with overwhelming majorities in every single one. Great Yarmouth First, then we Restore Britain. A very special day."

Also celebrating was the SNP, with First Minister John Swinney set to continue his stay in Bute House.

While the SNP fell short of a majority, Mr Swinney said Holyrood must "consider the aspirations of all parties and consider the aspirations of those who want Scotland to be an independent country".

He told the BBC: "I’d like to enjoy a more co-operative relationship with the United Kingdom Government, we have got to be partners, we have got shared interests.

"There has been a souring of relationships over the last nine months with the UK Government, it’s all been about the politics of the election.

"Now the Labour Government has just been hammered in Scotland and I hope that lesson is learned in Downing Street that there’s now got to be respect for the Scottish Government exercised by the UK Government."

"So my message to Downing Street tonight is very, very clear.

"They have got a lot of listening to do to the fact that Labour have been hammered here in Scotland and an SNP Government, after 19 years in office, has just been emphatically returned to office, and Scotland needs respect as a consequence of that election outcome."

As the results poured in, pressure continued to mount on Sir Keir Starmer to resign.

Luton North MP Sarah Owen told The Times: "The public’s message to the Prime Minister is clear - and it is now do or die for the Labour Leadership.

"Unless Keir Starmer delivers tangible change and truly connects with the public on a human level, he can’t lead us into another election (locally or nationally). People want politics and politicians who are upfront and true to their values."

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome, an outspoken critic of Sir Keir, said: "The election results in England, Wales and Scotland are a disaster for the Labour Party, and I send commiserations to the many fantastic Labour representatives who have lost their seats.

"Frankly, if we don’t get our act together, Labour will face total destruction...From housing to our hollowed-out public services, the country faces interlocking crises that demand bold policies and a progressive government with the courage to deliver them.

"With this in mind, I believe the Prime Minister should announce a timetable for his departure."

Connor Naismith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, said: "In the wake of these catastrophic local elections results, with regret, it is clear to me that we need new leadership.

"Leadership which is capable of bringing together a broad coalition of voters to stop the Thatcherite politics of Reform UK."

However, despite this, cabinet members spent this afternoon rallying behind the Prime Minister.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, said: "Keir Starmer won a mandate to change our country. We must get on with delivering that mandate - and show how politics can improve people’s lives for the better.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who saw Labour wiped out in her Wigan constituency, added: "As the Prime Minister says, it is clear the public are impatient for change and we must rise to meet this moment and deliver change on the scale that people need and have asked for."

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: "Reversing these results requires a collective effort, not just blaming the boss. We can’t do that by turning in on ourselves. We do it by rebuilding faith in Labour’s ability to inspire and lead our country.

"Losing our Prime Minister is the very opposite of that. In the days ahead, we’ll set out the ambition we have for a fairer and more prosperous Britain."

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: "The last thing the country wants is the Labour Party to talk about the Labour Party. The British public don’t want to hear about timelines, backroom deals and navel-gazing. Let’s get on with the job."

Home Office minister Mike Tapp added: "The Tories wrecked the country in large part due to the constant churn in Prime Minsters and Ministers. We owe it to our constituents to not do the same.

"We won’t deliver for our communities with what has become typical political infighting. The PM is going nowhere, quite rightly. We can only deliver with stability of leadership."