Overview
- Early counts on Friday, following Thursday's local and regional vote, showed Labour losing hundreds of seats as Reform UK posted big gains across former Labour strongholds.
- Keir Starmer said he will stay on as prime minister and accept responsibility, calling the results very tough and pledging to reset his agenda.
- Several Labour MPs and union leaders publicly urged him to step down, signaling a brewing leadership fight as more results arrive.
- In Scotland the SNP looked set to remain the largest party with possible Green backing, while in Wales Plaid Cymru and Reform UK challenged Labour for control.
- The contest spanned about 5,000 English council seats plus the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, and the mix of voting systems means final seat totals could shift as counting completes.