Starmer faces open revolt from cabinet and MPs, Wales set…

Starmer faces open revolt from cabinet and MPs, Wales set to pass to Plaid Cymru

12.05.2026 07:00 HotInfo

Local and regional elections were held in the United Kingdom on Thursday, May 7, in England, Scotland and Wales. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party suffered a historic defeat that has raised serious questions about the future of his leadership. Labour finished in third place both in terms of votes and seats, while Reform UK and the Greens made dramatic gains. British politics has fundamentally changed, and the country has entered an era of multi-party politics. The Guardian ↗

In Wales, Labour lost control of the Senedd after 100 years in power. Plaid Cymru became the largest party with 43 seats and will govern Wales for the first time. Its leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, hopes to become First Minister as early as Tuesday. The defeat was so painful that Wales's First Minister, Eluned Morgan, lost her own seat — the first time in history that a sitting leader of the Welsh parliament has lost their seat. In England, Labour lost control of cities such as Birmingham (after 14 years in charge), Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth. Reform UK emerged as the big winner, with an estimated gain of around 30 percent of the vote in cities and taking control of hundreds of council seats. Its leader, Nigel Farage, described the elections as "a historic shift in British politics." The Guardian ↗

In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) held onto power with a majority in parliament, though its victory was less convincing than in the past. Labour and Reform came in close behind for second place. The SNP faces new challenges in the coming years of governing the country. Anas Sarwar, leader of Labour in Scotland, pledged to remain in his post despite the disastrous results. Tagesspiegel ↗

The Greens made unprecedented progress, winning their first mayors and three city councils. Their leader, Zack Polanski, declared that "two-party politics is dead and buried." The Liberal Democrats also improved in individual areas such as Portsmouth and Richmond upon Thames, although they lost ground in Scotland. Die Zeit ↗

The defeat has forced a serious internal crisis on Labour. Dozens of MPs — more than 70 — are publicly demanding Starmer's departure or a set timeline for his premiership. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and other senior cabinet members are now calling on Starmer to set a timetable for his departure, leading to deep divisions within the government. MP Catherine West has called on cabinet members to urge Starmer to change the leadership by Monday, or be removed themselves. Starmer has tried to stabilize the situation by bringing in former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a special envoy for global finance and Harriet Harman for initiatives on women and girls. However, despite the pressure, Starmer has refused BBC News ↗