Labour<\/a> lost hundreds of councillors in England and suffered humiliation in Wales, but he made clear that he would not quit, saying \u201ctough days like this don\u2019t weaken my resolve\u201d.<\/p>\nSome Labour MPs have come out demanding his resignation, but members of Starmer\u2019s cabinet have rallied around the prime minister.<\/p>\n
Health secretary Wes Streeting, who is widely seen as a likely candidate in a potential leadership race despite publicly denying such ambitions, said Starmer had his \u201csupport\u201d.<\/p>\n
Keir Starmer speaks to members of the media in London following the local elections. Photograph: Leon Neal\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll continue putting my shoulder to the wheel as the health and social care secretary, who\u2019s getting the NHS back on its feet and making sure it\u2019s fit for the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged “a devastating night\u201d for Labour but said the prime minister \u201chas rightly said we must do better\u201d.<\/p>\n
But several backbench MPs have called on Starmer to set out a timetable to resign. Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East, said Starmer has to go \u201cin the not too distant future\u201d, while Sarah Owen, MP for Luton North, said it\u2019s \u201cdo or die for the Labour leadership\u201d.<\/p>\n
Labour suffered a historic loss in Wales, where the party\u2019s 27 years in power has come to an end with Plaid Cymru winning the largest number of seats, though still short of a majority. In Scotland, the SNP is emerging as the victor.<\/p>\n
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks to reporters as he arrives at a gathering for party supporters at Chelmsford City Racecourse, Essex. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt\/PA<\/p>\n
Arguably the biggest winner on Thursday was Reform UK, having gained more than 1,200 seats and control of 12 councils in England, according to the Press Association\u2019s tally of the results. Reform leader Nigel Farage declared he had ushered in \u201ca truly historic shift in British politics\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Liberal Democrats and Green party also made gains at the expense of Labour, with Greens leader Zack Polanski announcing the era of two-party politics \u201cis not just dying, it is dead and it is buried\u201d.<\/p>\n
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