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Reform UK Makes Gains as Labour Loses Councillors in Local Elections
Local elections held on 7 May 2026 across England, Scotland and Wales delivered heavy losses for Labour, which lost control of long-held areas and saw its Welsh First Minister unseated. Reform UK triumphed while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced immediate calls from at least 10 Labour MPs to stand down. Starmer responded by saying he would not walk away.
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Local elections held across England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday 7 May 2026 produced heavy losses for Labour, which lost 1,300 councillors. The party was routed in Wales, lost control of areas it had controlled for a century and surrendered seats across the north of England and Midlands to Reform UK. Labour also lost support to the Greens in inner-city London.
In one prominent result, Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat after Plaid Cymru beat Labour there, according to BBC News reported. Reform UK made big gains in the local elections and triumphed overall. The outcome prompted at least 10 Labour MPs to call for Sir Keir Starmer to stand down.
Some Labour backbenchers and union bosses said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could not lead the party into the next election unless he delivers significant and urgent change. Allies of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he was ready to throw down the gauntlet to Sir Keir as soon as next week. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said 'I won't walk away'.
The Times front page headline was 'Labour's historic battering'. The Daily Telegraph headline was 'MPs break cover with calls for Starmer to quit'. The FT Weekend headline was 'Starmer defies MPs' calls to quit'.
The Guardian reported that Keir Starmer is under pressure to set out a timeline for his departure. The Daily Mail headline included the phrase 'it's time to go'. The i Weekend headline was 'Farage plots path to No 10'.
The Independent headline was 'PM vows: I won't walk away after colossal defeat'. The Daily Express headline was 'Farage's vow to fix Britain'. Separate news dominated other front pages. Tess Daly and Vernon Kay are breaking up after 22 years of marriage.
