UK election results mark “historic turning point in British politics”, says Trump supporter Farage as major parties shake up

London – The United Kingdom's ruling Labor Party and the opposition Conservative Party, which together dominate British politics and have housed every prime minister for more than a century, both went head-to-head in a major round of local elections on Thursday.

For the Labor Leader and the current one Prime Minister Keir StarmerThe heavy losses in town councils across England, even with votes still being counted in Scotland and Wales, paint a grim picture.

Starmer took office less than two years ago, after Labor won a landslide in the last general election. In Thursday's vote, the party lost more than half of its seats in local councils, fueling renewed calls for Starmer to step down as leader of his party and the country.

The biggest winners of the night appeared to be Nigel Farage and his right-wing populist party Reform UK, who made huge gains across England.

Farage, a friend of President Trump who has appeared on stage with the US leader several times, called the result “a truly historic change in British politics,” saying Labor was being “destroyed” in many traditional strongholds.

Starmer quickly acknowledged the magnitude of the backlash, calling the results “difficult,” a clear warning to his government from voters, but he rejected calls for him to step down.

“I will not walk away from those challenges and put the country in trouble,” he said.

About 5,000 seats in 136 city and county councils were up for grabs in Thursday's election, along with six mayoral races. The winners will help decide local issues, such as garbage collection, road maintenance, social care and public housing.

But like US midterms, the election has also been seen as a measure of the state of the country, giving voters a chance to express their views on the current government between national elections.

Local voting also provides an opportunity for smaller parties, independents and outsiders to gain political positions that would be more difficult to obtain in national parliamentary races.

There were also elections for the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, but those results were beginning to trickle in on Friday.

The results reinforced a wider trend that has alarmed Britain's major parties.

“It hurts, and it should hurt, and I'm committed,” Starmer said. “Difficult days like these do not weaken my determination to bring about the change I promised. They strengthen my determination.”

The Conservatives also faced major challenges. The party ruled Britain for 14 years before losing power in 2024.

Reform UK has made steady gains in recent years and, in some parts of England – particularly in working-class and industrial areas that have long been Labor strongholds – it looks set to replace the Conservative Party as the political opposition.

This change reflected the political changes seen in certain parts of the United States and Europe.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has seen her party continue to struggle with voter dissatisfaction after years in government.

The Green Party of England and Wales also gained, but it was very small compared to that enjoyed by the Reformation.

The leader of the Greens, Zack Polanski, has put his party in the polls after the controversy, after he reposted a message on social media criticizing the actions of London police who arrested a man who was carrying a knife after a shooting. a stabbing attack that left two Jewish men injured last week.

Although it was a small victory compared to Reform, Polanski still hailed the election results as the latest sign that the two-party system in Britain, “is not just dead, it is dead and buried.”