Ruptly
"UK PM Sir Keir Starmer admitted local election results overnight were 'tough' - and said there was 'no sugar-coating' them - as his party braced for disaster on Friday. "The results are tough," he said. "They are very tough and there is no sugar coating this. We have lost brilliant labour representatives across the country. These are people who put so much into their communities, so much into our party and our movement. And that hurts. And it should hurt. And I take responsibility when voters send a message like this. We must reflect and we must respond." However, while he is facing many calls to quit - even from his own side - he has so far ruled that out, and tried to put the blame on other factors. "I think the vast majority of people do understand that we face huge challenges as a country. We've had a series of economic shocks in recent years, and there's a very difficult international situation that we face," he said. "We didn't do enough to convince them that things will get better, that things will improve. The hope, and that is why in coming days, I'm going to set out the steps that we will take to deliver the change that they want and that they deserve," he added. At time of publication, anti-immigration Reform UK was surging with hundreds of seats gained on local councils - and over 250 losses for Labour. Polling suggested Labour could be on course for nearly 2,000 losses - or around three quarters of its seats. The Greens on the left also expected to make gains at Labour's expense too. The vote projection had Reform UK on just over 30 per cent of the vote, with Conservatives on 19 and Labour on 15. Starmer is already under pressure to quit over the scandal involving his Epstein-linked former US ambassador, as well as rows over immigration chaos, blighted public services, the spiralling cost of living made even harder due to the Iran war. The Greens have slammed Starmer's Gaza stance for not being strong enough on Israel, and his very public bust-ups with US President Donald Trump have added to his woes. The PM would not be forced to quit as the makeup of the national UK parliament in Westminster is not affected by these elections - although he is predicted to face at least one leadership challenge. It could potentially come from Health Secretary Wes Streeting or former deputy leader Angela Rayner - while self-styled 'King of the North', Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, could also show his hand. The next national elections are not scheduled until 2029, although could be called earlier by the PM himself, or his potential successor. "
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