Starmer faces mounting pressure after Labour election losses
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure after Labour suffered major losses in local and regional elections across the UK.
The elections, held in Scotland, Wales and 136 local authorities in England, marked Labour’s biggest electoral test since its 2024 general election victory.
Labour lost nearly 1,500 council seats in England, while Reform UK made significant gains, increasing its number of councillors by more than 1,400 seats.
In Wales, Labour lost a national election vote for the first time in more than a century, while the Scottish National Party retained power in Scotland.
Cabinet resignations deepen crisis
More than 80 Labour lawmakers and several ministers have reportedly called on Starmer to resign or announce a timetable for his departure.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned on Thursday, citing Labour’s election losses and saying he had lost confidence in Starmer’s leadership.
Streeting became the fifth minister to quit, following the resignations of Jess Phillips, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Alex Davies-Jones and Zubir Ahmed.
Starmer has insisted he will continue governing despite the growing unrest.
UK political instability continues
Starmer is the fifth British prime minister since David Cameron resigned following the 2016 Brexit referendum.
The UK has since seen the premierships of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Starmer, averaging a new leader every two years.
The pace contrasts sharply with the relative stability between 1979 and 2016, when only five prime ministers governed Britain over 37 years.
Recent polling has also reflected Starmer’s declining popularity, with surveys suggesting growing public dissatisfaction following Labour’s election setbacks.
Source:AA
