Historic council losses signal pressure on Boris Johnson and a political turning point
Boris Johnson’s leadership faces mounting pressure following Thursday’s local election results, which saw the Conservatives lose over 300 council seats and historic strongholds to Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Among the most significant defeats were Wandsworth and Westminster, two of the Tories’ longest-held boroughs, now taken over by Labour.
The losses mark a “turning point”, according to Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, who celebrated his party’s gains in key areas, particularly London. Sadiq Khan, London’s mayor, joined in celebrating Labour’s historic capture of Wandsworth Council, a Conservative stronghold for 44 years. Meanwhile, Barnet and Westminster also fell into Labour’s hands, signalling deeper concerns for the Tories. Jonathan Carr-West, head of the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), labelled these defeats as “a big blow” for Conservative morale.
The Liberal Democrats also made strides by securing Somerset County Council with a strong majority of 61 seats, compared to 36 for the Conservatives. Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, described this victory as a clear sign that residents in Somerset were eager for “change” after 13 years of Conservative governance.
While the elections dominated headlines, another controversy arose with “Beergate.” Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner are now under investigation by Durham Constabulary over alleged Covid-19 breaches, despite initially being cleared. Starmer maintained his confidence that no rules were violated.
In Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein is projected to win the most votes in the Stormont elections, although it is unclear if this will translate into the most seats. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald hailed the elections as “about change, progress and partnership,” while DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson described the outcome as “very tight.”
These local election results have sent shockwaves through British politics, reflecting a significant shift in public opinion and a challenging path ahead for the Conservatives as internal divisions and external pressure mount.
