Labour losses pile up in England local elections as Reform UK makes gains

The scale of the electoral challenge facing Labour was laid bare overnight as the party haemorrhaged councillors at the local elections and Reform made significant gains. Keir Starmer’s party went into Thursday’s local elections expected to lose up to 1,850 councillors, with senior figures describing the contest as “tough”. Initial results painted a bleak picture for the prime minister, with Labour losing councillors in its traditional northern heartlands. …