Nigel Farage expressed hope that Keir Starmer would remain as prime minister, calling him Reform UK's 'biggest asset'. The local elections appear to signal the end of two-party politics, with five parties now competing in England.
Election Results Overview
As expected, Nigel Farage was insufferably pleased with himself, while Keir Starmer looked hunted but insisted he would remain prime minister. Kemi Badenoch grinned wildly, claiming the Tories were back despite slumping to insignificance outside the south-east. Ed Davey became the supreme leader of Richmond upon Thames, where the Lib Dems won all 54 seats. Zack Polanski avoided appearances until lunchtime, and Huw Irranca-Davies conceded defeat before votes were counted.
Labour's Struggles
Early Labour voices on rolling news included John McDonnell, Ian Lavery, and Jonathan Brash, who called for Starmer to step down. Yvette Cooper appeared on the BBC after 8am to say something nice about Keir, but seemed in shock. She equivocated when asked about a possible return of Andy Burnham to Westminster, mumbling that he is a very talented politician. If council results are replicated at a general election, Angela Rayner, Jonathan Reynolds, and Lisa Nandy would all lose their seats.
Conservative Party's Decline
James Cleverly held the fort for the Tories, claiming a mixed night, but results from Essex would see him, Kemi Badenoch, and Priti Patel lose their seats to Reform in a national election. Badenoch later declared winning Westminster and Wandsworth a sign of Tory victory, despite not actually winning Wandsworth and the party sliding towards becoming a regional party for the well-off.
Reform UK's Gains
Farage appeared in Havering, where Reform won its first London council, gloating about professionalization. However, Reform's percentage of the vote actually decreased from the previous year. Farage has earned £5m as a gift and another £2m in outside earnings over two years, but gets irritable when questioned. He hoped Starmer would stay on, calling him Reform's biggest asset.
Lib Dems and Greens
Ed Davey celebrated a Lib Dem win in Portsmouth, while Zack Polanski briefly appeared to celebrate the Greens winning the Hackney mayoralty, but had little to say on why his party underperformed.
Future Implications
Starmer looked terrible during an interview with Sky's Beth Rigby, admitting it had been a tough night but refusing to walk away. Voters have sent a message demanding change, but Starmer gave no clues on what that change might be. The real focus remains on Labour and Keir, with Burnham, Rayner, and Streeting keeping their powder dry, asking themselves: 'If not now, then when?' It's going to be a long few days.
