"More than 20 MPs are calling for him to consider his position Just under two years after winning a landslide national election, Mr Starmer saw voters punish his Labour government, with support evaporating even in its traditional strongholds in London, former industrial regions in central and northern England, and in Wales."
"The main beneficiary was the populist Reform UK party of Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, which gained more than 1,000 council seats in England, and will likely form the main opposition in Scotland and Wales to the pro-independence Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. Early results underscored the fracturing of Britain's traditional two-party system, with the once-dominant Labour and Conservative parties losing votes not only to Reform, but to the left-wing Green Party at the other end of the political spectrum, and to nationalists in Scotland and Wales."
""I am not going to walk away," Mr Starmer told reporters in Ealing, west London, a rare bright spot where Labour retained control of the council. To Labour activists, he showed a moment of contrition when he said he took full responsibility for the losses and admitted his government had made some "unnecessary mistakes" including failing to offer hope to Britain when the party took power."
"But he argued voters were more frustrated with the pace of change than with his government, and vowed to set out "the steps that we will take to deliver the change that they want and that they deserve". In what seemed to be a nod to the latest government reset, Mr Starmer said he would double down on efforts to tackle a cost-of-living crisis compounded by wars in Ukraine and Iran. That message seemed to cheer investors. Sterling strengthened against the US dollar and British government borrowing costs fell - outperforming against"
Labour’s support fell sharply in council elections less than two years after a landslide national victory, including losses in London, central and northern England, and Wales. Reform UK, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, gained more than 1,000 council seats and is expected to become the main opposition in Scotland and Wales. The results showed a fractured political landscape as votes shifted away from Labour and Conservatives toward Reform, the Green Party, and nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales. Starmer said he would not walk away, took full responsibility for losses, and admitted unnecessary mistakes. He argued voters were frustrated by the pace of change and promised steps to deliver desired change, while doubling efforts to address the cost-of-living crisis amid wars in Ukraine and Iran.
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