The results as they are this morning:
Ed Miliband eventually came out with a statement – not explicitly backing the PM – after most of the Cabinet supported Starmer’s continuation in office:
“These are devastating election results for Labour and I’m deeply sorry for all of those colleagues who have lost their seats. Voters are making clear their anger at a broken economic and political status quo. As Keir has said, we must go further in delivering the mandate for change that Labour won in 2024 — and show how we will answer the call for change in our country.”
The Times says electoral turnout was 10% higher this time than is usual for a set of locals. Deputy Leader Lucy Powell was asked about a leadership challenge this morning:
“I don’t think it should happen and I don’t want it to happen… we don’t do hostile takeovers in the Labour party.”
The Greens did worse than expected. Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake told the BBC this morning the Tories had a “difficult night” but had some “really good highlights”:
“If you look behind the trends, behind the headlines, we hoped to narrow the gap between Reform, particularly in England – that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Starmer replacement plotters are planning a Burnham coronation to take place in some months. The long period of recriminations begins, apart from in Reform…
Starmer loyalist and Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Sky News that Starmer should not be replaced:
“We saw what the Tories did. They were in power for 14 years, and after 2016, I think we had nine education secretaries, seven chancellors, and five Prime Ministers. Doomscrolling through Prime Ministers doesn’t resolve the problem.”