Sir Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, and Zack Polanski have issued significant statements following the local election results across England on Friday morning. Starmer described the outcomes for Labour as "very tough," taking responsibility and urging the party to "reflect and respond."
Labour Losses and No Overall Control
Labour lost control of Oxford, Tameside, Tamworth, Exeter, Hartlepool, Wandsworth, and Redditch, with many councils falling to no overall control. Around a third of results in England were declared by 9am on Friday, May 8.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat Gains
The Conservatives lost Hampshire but gained Westminster from Labour, while holding Fareham, Harlow, and Broxbourne. The Liberal Democrats gained Stockport and Portsmouth from no overall control and held Eastleigh and Richmond-upon-Thames.
Starmer's Response
Speaking at Kingsdown Methodist Church in Ealing, west London, the Prime Minister said: "The results are tough, they are very tough, and there's no sugarcoating it. We have lost brilliant Labour representatives across the country... and I take responsibility. When voters send a message like this we must reflect and we must respond." He acknowledged the challenges facing the country but stressed that voters want to see tangible improvements.
Farage's Historic Shift Claim
Nigel Farage, speaking in Havering, said Labour was being "wiped out by Reform in many of their traditional areas." He predicted Conservatives would also lose heartlands, adding: "What has happened is a truly historic shift in British politics. Reform can win in areas that have always been Conservative and in areas Labour have dominated since World War One." He reported winning one in three seats up for election and expressed confidence in results from the North East, Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Essex.
Greens' Remarkable Performance
Zack Polanski, on X (formerly Twitter), said: "For the Greens to be beating Labour in the popular vote in places like Reading is remarkable! We've gained seats across the country and an increase in our vote share almost everywhere we've stood. All over the UK people are voting to end Rip Off Britain."
