Labour makes gains, Conservatives loses councils, seats in UK local elections

LONDON (AA) – As the count after Thursday's local elections in England and Wales continues, Labour Party leads with positive results with four new councils and 59 new council seats.

The ruling Conservative Party has lost three councils they were defending, alongside 113 council seats, as almost one-third of the results are declared.

Right-wing populist Reform UK saw a 13% vote in areas where the Conservatives suffered defeat, however, the party, which is also supported by far-right, is still yet to win a council.

Liberal Democrats continued its slow march with a gain of 16 council seats.

The Conservatives had benefited from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in 2021 local elections are predicted to lose more councils and seats amid ongoing problems across the country, including the cost of living crisis, rising inflation and controversies surrounding the Rwanda plan.

- By-election

Labour has also won in Blackpool South by-election, in a new blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Labour candidate Chris Webb won the seat with a 7,607 majority and a major 26% swing in the constituency.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a "seismic win," describing it “a message to Rishi Sunak's Conservatives directly.”

- Labour votes drop in Muslim areas

Despite overall positive results, the Labour votes saw a decrease in areas where Muslims make up 5% of the population amid reaction to party’s stance toward the Israeli attacks in Gaza.

There has been a 3.3% decrease since 2023 in those areas where dozens of Muslim councilors had resigned from the party.

Thousands of British Muslim councilors, imams, doctors and other professionals had said they lost confidence in Starmer as he repeatedly failed to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, where, to date, more than 34,000 people have been killed by the Israeli army.

Counts are still taking place across the UK, expected to be completed on Saturday.