Politics live: Labour bracing for local election wipeout after Starmer cancellation U-turn, poll finds
Labour set for punishing local elections after Starmer’s U-turn
- The government abandoned plans to postpone local elections in 30 areas in May, following Labour's initial proposal to cancel them.
- Labour had intended to cancel elections, affecting 4.5 million people, to free up capacity for an overhaul of council structures.
- The U-turn came after legal advice, prompted by a challenge from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who claimed victory.
- Councils expressed disappointment, and election administrators noted months of essential planning time for the reinstated elections had been lost.
- A poll suggests that Labour could face a significant setback, potentially losing control of six councils and seeing majorities wiped out in four others.
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