EUROPE
politics · severity 7
UK Labour Party Loses Local Elections to Reform UK Surge
UK local elections on May 8, 2026 resulted in significant losses for PM Keir Starmer's Labour Party, which lost control of at least eight councils and over 200 seats. Far-right Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, made historic early gains in Labour heartlands. The Green Party also gained seats. Results deepen doubts about Starmer's governance ability less than two years after his landslide national election victory.
Sources
- Keir Starmer's Labour braces for heavy losses in UK local elections
- UK’s Labour set for heavy losses in elections as Reform makes early gains
- UK elections 2026: Starmer ‘won’t walk away’ as Farage makes big gains — live updates
- UK elections – early results and takeaways; will Starmer have to resign?
- UK Labour dealt blow as far-right Reform surges, Greens gain in local elections