Polling expert issues verdict on how many councillors Labour will lose in local elections
Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer leave a polling station after voting during local elections in London (Reuters)
Local elections have concluded across Scotland, Wales, and parts of England, with Labour widely anticipated to face significant losses nationwide.
Polling expert Lord Robert Hayward predicted Labour could lose approximately 1,850 councillors in England and the national vote in Wales for the first time in over a century.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged the elections were ‘tough’ for Labour, attributing difficulties to cost of living concerns and the party’s message being overshadowed.
Poor results are expected to reignite speculation about Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, with reports of Cabinet ministers considering challenges and Andy Burnham cancelling a key speech.
Meanwhile, Reform UK, the Green Party, and the Liberal Democrats are all projected to make substantial gains, while the Conservatives are expected to lose further ground.
