1 of 1
Story summary
- The north-east England local elections delivered Labour’s most severe recent defeat, with Reform UK taking control of Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead councils and ending over 50 years of Labour rule.
- Reform UK framed the vote as a referendum on Labour leader Keir Starmer, a message that resonated with voters.
- Regional Labour MPs warned that without strategic changes the party’s local-government decline could spill onto Westminster in the next election.
