UK PM Starmer faces pressure after Labour suffers election defeat

LONDON: (Web Desk) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to “listen to voters” after his Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local and regional elections, marking the biggest political setback of his leadership since taking power in 2024.

The election results reflected growing public frustration, with voters shifting support toward right-wing and nationalist parties during Thursday’s polls. The anti-immigration Reform UK party, led by populist politician Nigel Farage, made major gains across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Writing in The Guardian, Starmer acknowledged the public backlash and said the correct response was to understand voter concerns rather than move sharply to the political left or right. He also admitted that his government had made avoidable mistakes and failed to give the public enough hope for change.

The pressure on Starmer intensified after senior Labour MP Clive Betts suggested the party leadership should begin discussing a transition plan. Speaking to BBC Radio, Betts said the cabinet had a responsibility to address growing dissatisfaction and consider a timetable for new leadership in the coming months.

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Despite criticism from within the party, Starmer has ruled out resigning and is expected to launch a political reset through a major speech on Monday. This will be followed by the State Opening of Parliament, where King Charles III will outline the government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session.

In an effort to strengthen his administration, Starmer has also brought senior party figures back into advisory roles. Former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman will advise on policies related to violence against women and girls, while former prime minister Gordon Brown will serve as a special envoy on global finance.

Political analysts say the scale of the defeat raises serious concerns for Labour’s future. Professor Robert Ford of the University of Manchester said it is extremely rare for a prime minister to recover from such low approval ratings.

The election outcome was especially damaging in Wales, where Labour lost control of the devolved government for the first time since the Welsh parliament was established 27 years ago. Nationalist party Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party, followed by Reform UK, with Labour falling to third place.

In Scotland, the Scottish National Party remained the biggest party but lost ground compared to previous elections. US President Donald Trump congratulated Scottish First Minister John Swinney on social media, while making no mention of Starmer.

Across England, Reform UK secured nearly 1,500 council seats, while the Green Party also recorded significant gains. Labour, meanwhile, lost almost 1,400 council seats and control of several local authorities, although results in London were better than expected.