Farage issues warning to Starmer
A victorious Nigel Farage promised “the best is yet to come” as he delivered a brutal warning to Sir Keir Starmer against attempting to rescue his premiership by pursuing closer links with the European Union.
He boasted of blowing apart the “traditional class system in British politics” in the wake of elections which saw Reform UK win more than 1,400 council seats, beat Labour in Wales and draw level with Sir Keir’s party in Scotland.
The crisis-hit Prime Minister is defying calls to quit and will on Monday make the case for closer links with the European Union in a major speech.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express, Mr Farage warned of electoral disaster for Sir Keir if he takes the UK closer to Europe.
Labour MP threatens leadership challenge
Labour former minister Catherine West said she would launch an unlikely leadership challenge on Monday in an attempt to force the Cabinet to act to remove Sir Keir Starmer.
She told the BBC’s PM programme: “I’m putting people on notice – if I don’t hear by Monday morning of some leadership hopefuls, I will be asking everybody in the Parliamentary Labour Party to put a name against my name, because we need to get this ball rolling.
“But my preferred option is for the Cabinet to do a reshuffle within itself, where there’s plenty of talent and for Keir to be given a different role, which he might enjoy, perhaps an international role, and then for others to come to the fore, who can communicate the message, who are very able, so we can have minimum fuss.”
She claimed to have the backing of 10 MPs for her initiative, well short of the 81 – 20% of Labour MPs – needed to mount a challenge, but her move is intended to spur one of the potential Cabinet leadership hopefuls into action.
Labour loses control of Bradford council
Labour has lost control of Bradford council to continue the bad news for the party in Yorkshire.
Reform UK cannot take control but were expected to be the largest party after taking 29 of the first 75 seats to be declared, with Conservatives on 18 and Labour on 15.
Reform UK ended more than 50 years of Labour rule in Barnsley and also took Calderdale and Wakefield from Labour, which also lost control of Leeds.
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Croydon remains under no overall control
Croydon has remained under no overall control after both Labour and the Conservatives failed to win the London borough.
Labour won 30 seats and the Tories 27, both short of the 36 needed for a majority.
Labour came into the election with 34 seats and Conservatives on 33, but the Greens made gains and ended with eight, while two Reform UK and two Liberal Democrat candidates were elected.