Cracks showing for Labour close to back yards of Starmer's top team

"Keir Starmer promised the public that his government would fight every day until you believe again. Now, Starmer is faced with the uncomfortable truth that the frustrated yet united coalition that brought him into No 10 hoping for change is completely fractured and its discontent cannot be dismissed as early midterm blues. The cracks are showing very close to the political backyards of Starmer and his top team."

"Reform UK has pushed through into Labour's old working-class heartlands across parts of northern England and the Midlands, many of which voted for Brexit. Meanwhile, the Greens undermined Labour's progressive base with mayoralty wins in Hackney and Lewisham. Soft left members of the parliamentary Labour party believe Starmer should see the losses, and the fragmentation of politics, as a sign to re-engage progressive voters who feel cast aside."

"On Starmer's local council of Camden, the Labour group leader, Richard Olszewski, failed to win a seat in the Holborn and Covent Garden ward, losing out to the Greens, although the Greens appeared disappointed not to be able to eat into Starmer's old local ward of Kentish Town. In Sunderland, the education secretary Bridget Phillipson's patch, Reform won full control of the city council."

"In Wigan, the culture secretary Lisa Nandy's constituency, Reform won 24 of the 25 seats available on the council. Labour lost its majority in Tameside, a Greater Manchester borough it had held for 47 years, to Reform, which may come as worrying news to allies of Angela Rayner, the Ashton-under-Lyne MP."

Keir Starmer entered Downing Street in July 2024 after a major Labour general election victory and promised to fight every day until people believe again. Local election results show that the coalition that brought him to power is fractured and that discontent is not limited to early midterm setbacks. Reform UK has gained ground in Labour’s traditional working-class areas in northern England and the Midlands, including places that voted for Brexit. The Greens have also weakened Labour’s progressive base through mayoralty wins in Hackney and Lewisham. Labour losses include failed seat retention in Camden, Reform control of Sunderland’s city council, and near-total council gains in Wigan, alongside major losses in Tameside.

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