Keir Starmer says he ‘takes responsibility’ for English council losses

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he takes responsibility for a “very tough” set of English council results.

With counting only underway in some parts of England, Labour has so far lost control of eight councils amid a strong showing for Reform UK.

Counting is also taking place in Scotland and Wales with results for Holyrood and the Senedd to be announced later.

Speaking to journalists earlier this morning, Starmer said of the results so far: “They are very tough, and there's no sugarcoating it.”

He said it “hurt” to lose Labour councillors across England, adding: “I take responsibility”.

He said: “Days like this don’t weaken my resolve to deliver the change that I promised.”

Reform leader Nigel Farage said the results showed a “truly historic shift” was taking place.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said he and his colleagues had “fought a campaign that we are very proud of” and had “closed strong” in Scotland after gaining “very significant momentum” on the doorsteps in the past few days.

He said the elections were taking place against a backdrop of “hugely challenging” international and domestic circumstances but there had been “encouraging” signs for Scottish Labour as the campaign ended.

Meanwhile, Reform UK's Thomas Kerr said his party was “very upbeat” and was looking “strong” across the central belt, particularly in working class communities. 

Kerr said “any MSP is good” for a party which has never won a Holyrood seat before, with its presence there due instead to defections from other parties. However, he said he was “very optimistic” that it would now become the parliament's second-largest bloc.

More to follow