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Britain’s ruling Labour Party has suffered major setbacks in early local election results, as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK recorded significant gains across parts of England.
The results have increased pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer less than two years after his landslide general election victory ended 14 years of Conservative rule.
Early counts released Friday showed Reform UK gaining more than 350 council seats, while Labour had lost over 240 seats across 40 English councils that had declared results by mid-morning. Thousands more seats across England, Scotland, and Wales were still being counted.
The elections are widely seen as the first major electoral test for Starmer’s government since taking office. Opinion polls had predicted a difficult outing for Labour, with dissatisfaction over the economy, energy costs, and government controversies weighing heavily on voters.
Reports of internal tensions within Labour have also intensified. According to The Times, Energy Secretary and former Labour leader Ed Miliband privately advised Starmer to outline a timetable for stepping down after the elections. While the report has added to speculation over the Prime Minister’s future, senior Labour figures publicly defended him.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy dismissed suggestions of a leadership change, telling BBC Radio: “You don’t change the pilot during the flight, you carry on.” He admitted there was “a lot of frustration” among voters but argued that Labour’s achievements had been overshadowed by its mistakes. Lammy added that the government needed to “pick up the pace.”
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the results as a “historic change in British politics,” claiming traditional political divisions were fading. Reform UK has benefited from growing frustration over immigration, the cost-of-living crisis, and public confidence in mainstream parties.
Labour has also faced criticism over several policy reversals and controversies, including scrutiny surrounding Peter Mandelson and his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The government has also struggled to deliver the economic growth Starmer promised during the election campaign.
Polls suggest Labour could lose control of the Welsh government for the first time since devolution began 27 years ago. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party is expected to strengthen its long hold on power, while Reform UK has been projected to push Labour into third place in some areas.
The Conservatives, led by Kemi Badenoch, are also bracing for losses in several traditional strongholds as Reform UK expands its support among working-class voters.
Leadership rumours within Labour continue to circulate, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting among names mentioned as possible challengers if pressure on Starmer increases further.
