UK Labour Party Suffers Historic Losses in Local Elections as Reform UK Surges
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour party lost more than 1,100 seats in local elections, while the right-wing Reform UK party gained over 1,400 seats, signaling a major political shift in British politics.
Election Results
The Labour Party won just over 1,000 of the seats that were contested, losing more than 1,100 seats that it had previously held. Meanwhile, the right-wing populist Reform UK party gained more than 1,400 seats.
Labour's Troubles
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour party suffered major losses in elections held across Britain last week, resulting in multiple calls for Starmer to resign. The historic losses are a reflection of the growing unpopularity of Starmer's tenure, which has been beset by a weak economy, backlash over his appointment of an ambassador with ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and a surge in antisemitism that has been declared a "national emergency."
Reform UK Rise
Reform recorded victories across the country, taking over Essex county council in the south, Havering – its first London local authority – and the northern English city of Sunderland.