Partial results from local elections in England show heavy losses for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, with the hard-right Reform UK making significant gains in traditionally Labour-held areas.
The results are widely seen as a referendum on Starmer’s leadership, which has declined in popularity since the 2024 general election. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the results “an historic change in British politics.”
Reform UK won hundreds of council seats in working-class northern England, while the Green Party and Liberal Democrats also picked up seats. The Conservative Party is expected to lose ground. Analysts say the results highlight a fragmentation of British politics.
Labour’s losses could lead to a leadership challenge, though Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy urged against changing leaders mid-term. Political analyst John Curtice noted the fracturing of the party system, with no single party achieving a dominant share of the vote.
Starmer’s approval has fallen due to policy missteps, stalled economic growth, and a controversial diplomatic appointment. A Labour rout could trigger a challenge from rivals like Health Secretary Wes Streeting or former Deputy PM Angela Rayner.