LONDON — Britain’s Labour Party, long out of power, had made a strong showing in local elections ahead of the 2024 general election. That success carried it to a landslide victory in the 2024 national vote and to government. But just two years into Labour rule, the political landscape has shifted. British voters have turned away from Labour, which has been dealt a major blow in England’s local elections. The local government elections were held May 7 in England. Early vote counts have disappointed Labour, with the ruling party facing a major setback in initial results.
Seats traditionally considered Labour strongholds have fallen in several councils. Anti-immigration leader Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, by contrast, has made significant gains in the results. Many see the outcome as a warning for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. At the same time, the rise of Reform UK signals a new dynamic in British politics.
In the results so far, Reform UK leads, with Labour in fourth place. Commenting on the rout, Starmer said the country’s economic crisis and international instability had left people expecting change, but that change had not yet been felt.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, a member of Starmer’s cabinet, said the election results carried a major message for the government and for Labour. In her view, the time had come to think deeply about the current situation. Polarization is growing in the country’s politics, she said, and that could pose a challenge to national unity.
Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party that scored major gains in the local elections, said the result marked the start of a historic shift in British politics.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report