Keir Starmer Says He Will Remain in Office After Labour’s Local Election Rout

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he plans to remain in office after Labour suffered among its worst local election losses in decades, telling the BBC, "I'm not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos."

“British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his ruling Labour Party have suffered heavy early losses in local and regional elections, counting shows so far, demonstrating deep voter anger with his government and raising new doubts about his future just two years after a landslide general election victory”

Al Jazeera

The BBC said Labour lost control of its first council at 02:01 BST, with counting continuing across England’s councils and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales after ballots were cast on Thursday.

Al Jazeera

In Wales, the BBC reported that First Minister Eluned Morgan arrived at a count expecting to lose her seat and the election, and she did.

The BBC also said the Scottish National Party took the most seats in Scotland’s devolved parliament but fell short of a majority, while Plaid Cymru was forecast to become the largest party in the Senedd at around 16:30.

CNBC reported that Starmer appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as his Special Envoy on Global Finance and Cooperation on Saturday, with the U.K. Cabinet Office saying Brown would develop new international finance partnerships supporting defense and security-related investment.

Calls for Starmer to step down grew louder after the results, with CNBC reporting that former minister Catherine West said in a post on X, "I know I speak for more Labour people than just myself in wanting him to step aside as our Leader,".

The BBC said Starmer admitted Labour "made unnecessary mistakes" but refused calls from Labour MPs to quit, even as it described an ultimatum issued as Labour MP Catherine West told the PM's cabinet: challenge Starmer by Monday, or I will.

AL24 News

In Scotland and Wales, the BBC said Labour admitted defeat and that John Swinney’s SNP took the most seats in Holyrood, while the BBC also said Plaid Cymru picked up 43 of the 96 seats available, six short of a majority.

In England, the BBC described Reform’s sweeping gains as becoming apparent early and continued to build throughout Friday, leading to a total of over 1,400 councillors.

Rayo reported that Sir Keir Starmer insisted he would carry on as Prime Minister despite Labour suffering those local election losses, saying, "The results are tough, they are very tough, and there’s no sugarcoating it."

The Associated Press said Starmer pledged to revive his struggling government but faced growing calls Saturday to resign after a disastrous set of local and regional elections for his Labour Party, with Labour suffering a net loss of more than 1,100 local council seats across England.

“What to know about British elections that hammered Starmer’s Labour Party What to know about British elections that hammered Starmer’s Labour Party LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to revive his struggling government but faced growing calls Saturday to resign after a disastrous set of local and regional elections for his Labour Party”

Associated Press

AP reported that Labour was booted from power in Wales after 27 years, while Reform UK gained over 1,300 seats across England and made significant gains in legislative elections in Wales and Scotland.

AP said Starmer tried to demonstrate change on Saturday by bringing back two figures from past Labour governments, making former Prime Minister Gordon Brown a special envoy on global finance and appointing the party’s ex-deputy leader Harriet Harman an adviser on women and girls.

AP also said Starmer is due to make a speech on Monday in an attempt to regain momentum, before the government sets out its legislative plans on Wednesday in a speech delivered by King Charles III at the State Opening of Parliament.

CNBC added that the local election result will not affect the composition of parliament in Westminster or change who is in government, but it reflects souring sentiment on Starmer's leadership among the electorate.