Starmer Defiant Following Significant Labour Losses in UK Local Elections

Although Labour suffered significant setbacks, senior allies rallied behind Starmer, whose approval ratings have fallen sharply in recent months.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Jan 6, 2026. Ludovic Marin/AP

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remained defiant on May 8 despite heavy losses for his Labour Party in local elections across England, Scotland, and Wales.

“I am not going to walk away,” Starmer told reporters in Ealing, west London, where Labour managed to retain control of the local council.