UK local elections: Labour under pressure as Reform UK rises

International Desk. PNN

The ruling Labour Party led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suffered a major setback in the UK local elections, while the right-wing Reform UK party has made significant gains nationwide.

Early results show Labour has lost more than 250 council seats. Meanwhile, Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has won over a hundred new seats, signaling a shift in British politics.

The election was seen as an important test for Starmer’s leadership. Recent opinion polls also showed Labour trailing Reform UK.

In response, Starmer said the results were disappointing but he is not avoiding responsibility and has no plans to resign. He promised to continue working for public expectations of change.

Analysts say rising living costs and economic pressure are key voter concerns, with many blaming the government directly.

Labour suffered heavy losses in northern England’s so-called “Red Wall” areas, traditional strongholds of the party. Reform UK also performed strongly in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, and former mining towns.

The Conservative Party also lost seats, although it made some gains in parts of London. The Green Party did not achieve expected success despite increased visibility.

About 5,000 council seats were contested across England, along with mayoral elections in London and regional parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales.

Analysts believe the results could reshape national politics and challenge Britain’s long-standing two-party system.