Guardian UK Politics
Labour suffers historic defeat in Wales as Reform surges in English council elections and Greens make gains – as it happened
Welsh Labour suffered a crushing blow as First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat, with the party falling to third place behind Plaid Cymru and Reform in the Welsh Parliament elections. Reform's surge extended across English council elections while the Greens also made notable gains, signaling a fractured political landscape. The results mark a historic low for Labour in its traditional Welsh stronghold and raise urgent questions about the party's national trajectory.
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British leader Keir Starmer under pressure after heavy election losses
Keir Starmer is facing mounting calls to resign after Labour suffered one of its worst local election performances in recent memory, shedding more than 1,400 English council seats. The party also took heavy blows in Wales and Scotland, signaling a dramatic collapse in support since Labour's landslide general election victory less than a year ago. The results hand significant momentum to Reform UK and raise urgent questions about Starmer's political survival.
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Starmer gives Brown and Harman new roles as pressure grows over election mauling – UK politics live
Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from within his own party to set an exit timetable, with several frontbenchers privately agreeing his tenure should not extend beyond the year's end. The appointments of Gordon Brown as special envoy on global finance and Harriet Harman to an undisclosed role appear designed to shore up support following a bruising electoral performance. Whether the moves signal renewal or managed decline will depend on how quickly Labour's internal reckoning develops.
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Starmer admits ‘unnecessary mistakes’ but rejects calls to quit – UK politics live
Keir Starmer acknowledged making "unnecessary mistakes" but firmly dismissed mounting calls to resign, even as several Labour frontbenchers privately told the Guardian his premiership should end before year's close. The pressure signals deepening fractures within the party, with the government simultaneously announcing Gordon Brown's appointment as special envoy on global finance to shore up its economic credibility.
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Labour MP says she will trigger leadership contest by Monday if cabinet does not launch challenge – UK politics live
Labour MP Catherine West has issued an ultimatum to the cabinet, warning she will personally gather the signatures needed to trigger a leadership contest by Monday if senior ministers fail to act first. The move signals growing backbench frustration with the current leadership and raises the prospect of an imminent internal party reckoning. Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has been appointed as a special envoy on global finance, tasked with advising on how international financial cooperation can strengthen the country's security and resilience.
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