In a series of regional mayoral contests, Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party have dealt a significant blow to the Conservative Party, adding to their woes following a challenging set of

local council results.

The Conservatives had hoped to retain the West Midlands mayoral seat with incumbent Andy Street. However, Labour's Richard Parker secured victory by a narrow margin of just 1,508 votes, intensifying the pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The loss in the West Midlands, confirmed after a tense recount, marked a dismal outcome for the Conservatives, with Ben Houchen's success in Tees Valley standing as their sole mayoral win out of 11 contests across England.

In addition to the mayoral races, the Tories faced setbacks in local authority elections, losing over 470 councillors and control of 10 councils. They also faltered in the parliamentary seat of Blackpool South, where Labour emerged victorious, nearly overtaking the Conservatives, and Reform UK made a significant showing.

Despite these setbacks, any talk of a potential leadership challenge against Rishi Sunak seems to have fizzled out. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman emphasized the necessity of sticking with the current leadership, albeit criticizing the Prime Minister's performance.

Rishi Sunak expressed disappointment over the loss in the West Midlands but reiterated the party's commitment to its agenda of securing borders, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities.

Meanwhile, Labour celebrated its victories across various regions, including the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Greater London, and others. Sir Keir Starmer hailed the "phenomenal" results, attributing them to voters' fatigue with years of perceived decline and division under Conservative leadership. He urged Rishi Sunak to call for a general election.

While Labour enjoyed success in most areas, concerns arose over a potential backlash in Muslim communities due to the party's stance on Gaza. Analysis revealed a decrease in Labour's vote share in wards with significant Muslim populations, prompting Sir Keir Starmer to acknowledge and address these concerns.

Overall, Labour gained 185 councillors and secured control of eight councils, along with 10 new police and crime commissioner positions. The Liberal Democrats also made gains, clinching control of councils in Dorset and Tunbridge Wells, though falling short of their targets in West Oxfordshire and Wokingham.

The Green Party celebrated a record-breaking campaign with significant gains in council seats. Reform UK showed strength in the Blackpool South by-election, while smaller parties like George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain and the Women's Equality Party also secured victories in various councils. Photo by Descrier, Wikimedia commons.