'Time for change!' Havering locals cast doubt on Keir Starmer after Reform council election victory

Locals in Havering have cast their doubt over Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister after Reform UK secured a historic victory in the London borough.

The Conservative Party has been left without any representation in Havering, while Reform UK took 39 out of 55 council seats.

Speaking to GB News, Havering residents told national reporter Will Godley that it is "time for a change" from the Labour Government.

"It's time for a change, because he's [Keir Starmer] been in two years and he's very unpopular and you can't rekindle your popularity," one resident said.

"It's like people like Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher in the past, once their political credibility goes, they've never recovered it, so it's time they had a change."

Another voter offered a defence for Sir Keir, admitting the Prime Minister has been "muddling along the best he can" despite widespread criticism.

He told GB News: "He's muddling along best he can, considering all the hassle he's getting, grief from media, I think he's not too bad.

"Not my ideal choice, but he's better than Rishi Sunak."

Another Havering local admitted that although she "didn't vote" in the election, she is "not surprised" that Reform won and secured votes in the borough.

She said: "I'm not surprised because I didn't vote at all, because I didn't know who to vote for this year, this time.

"So we didn't vote at all, but I'm not surprised with Labour's performance that it's gone to Reform."

Asked by Will if she believes Havering needs change, she agreed: "Yes it does. I can't really put my finger on one specific thing, but yeah, everything needs changing."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Keir Starmer fails to calm bond markets over leadership challenge as Britain's borrowing costs rise
• Labour MP joins calls for Keir Starmer to resign following local election losses: 'He has failed!'
• Angela Rayner attacks Keir Starmer in keynote speech as she takes swipe at PM over Andy Burnham

Speaking to another Havering voter, he told GB News that it is a "real shame" that Reform UK won the election.

He explained: "Honestly, I think it's a real shame. A lot of our new Reform councillors are actually Tory councillors, and they've kind of defected.

"So you've got people who are local Conservatives who are annoyed by that, and you look at what they've done with Kent Council where it's just been a complete sort of catastrophe, people resigning and infighting and everything.

"And I think Havering deserves better than that."

Asking the voter about the state of politics nationally, he said Sir Keir "should go" as he has been "disappointed" with their performance since coming into power.

He told GB News: "Normally I would vote Labour, but I voted Green this time because I'm just really disappointed with how the Labour Party have been.

"It doesn't feel like they really stand for anything at the moment. It's just carrying on with the status quo. And Keir Starmer says we need to make loads of changes, but is he going to do it? No, no probably not.

"So he should go, 100 per cent. Get rid of him."