UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected calls to resign after Labour suffered heavy losses in the UK’s local elections on 7 May.
Labour lost more than 1,400 seats in English councils and faced further setbacks in Wales and Scotland, with Reform UK making significant gains.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (12 May), Starmer said he would “get on with governing” and would not step down unless a formal leadership challenge was mounted. Several cabinet members backed him, although more than 80 Labour MPs have publicly called for him to resign or set a timetable for his departure.
CNN described the local election results as the “final straw” for many Labour lawmakers, following months of political difficulties for Starmer. These included controversial welfare and winter fuel payment decisions, shifting positions on immigration, weak economic growth, and criticism over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. Supporters point to progress on NHS waiting lists, workers’ rights and relations with Europe, but critics say Starmer has failed to communicate Labour’s achievements effectively.
Source: commonspace.eu with CNN and BBC
