Nigel Farage has slammed "doomed" Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister enlisted Gordon Brown into No10's inner circle.
The former Prime Minister was appointed as a special envoy on global finance as part of Sir Keir's reset.
Downing Street confirmed Sir Keir is eyeing up ways to boost the country's security and resilience, adding: "Gordon Brown will advise on how global finance can help to achieve this."
His appointment comes as part of Sir Keir Starmer's "reset" following a devastating set of election results where Labour lost more than 1,400 seats across England.
While Sir Keir said the move was "future-looking", the Reform UK chief said: "An unpopular Prime Minister who lost a general election is now seen by Starmer as being the saviour. Labour are doomed."
Meanwhile, party economics spokesman Robert Jenrick chimed in with his leader, issuing a damning response as well.
"Genius," he sarcastically slung. "Bring back the guy who gave away our gold reserves to advise on 'economic resilience'.
"What could possibly go wrong?"
FOLLOW ALONG WITH GB NEWS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY...
Local election roundup
With only two of the near 5,000 council election results still to be declared, Reform UK has gained more than 1,350 seats and taken control of 14 councils, including eight previously run by Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party has lost more than 1,200 seats, more than half of those it was defending in these elections, and lost 37 councils.
The Greens have gained almost 400 seats and taken control of five councils, while the Liberal Democrats have gained almost 150 seats and taken control of three councils.
The Conservatives have lost more than 430 seats and eight councils, while independents and residents’ groups have lost around 250 seats.
The final two seats are on Birmingham City Council, where the other 99 were all declared on Friday, before returning officer Rob Connelly said the count in the remaining ward would resume on Monday.
The undeclared ward, Glebe Farm and Tile Cross, is understood to have gone to several recounts.
With two seats remaining to be decided, Reform had won 22 seats, Green Party 19, Labour 17, Conservatives 16, independents 13 and Lib Dems 12, on a council it previously ran.
Catherine West urged to retract leadership challenge by Labour Party chiefs
Labour Party chiefs have urged Catherine West MP not to go ahead with her challenge to Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms West said: "The Party leadership has asked me, obviously, not to do this and said everything is in hand.
"But I’m not convinced. I think we need to have a strong statement from the Prime Minister, either that he feels he’s not the person to take us forward, or he is, and he’s fighting for us.
"That is what we need to know. And I think that’s what they just want to hear. After their verdict, which they gave us, as Labour representatives on Thursday, we need a much stronger response from the Government."
MP who launched fresh challenge on Keir Starmer brands election results 'apocalyptic'
Former minister Catherine West, who has launched a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer, has described Labour’s local election results as "apocalyptic".
The Hornsey and Wood Green MP said: "I feel most of the problems are around the lack of communication, but also the lack of urgency. We’re hurting.
"Many of our really good candidates at local level, and basically in Scotland, Wales, and other places, were very badly let down. We knew it was going to be bad, but not as apocalyptic as it was.
"It does demand more of an energised response from the Prime Minister telling us how it is going to be different."
Keir Starmer vows to lead Labour into next general election and sets out priorities going forward
Sir Keir earlier insisted he would not 'walk away' from his job | GETTYSir Keir Starmer has vowed to lead Labour at the next general election as he faces the possibility of a leadership challenge after the party’s disastrous local election results.
Asked if he would lead at the next election and serve a full term, he told the Sunday Mirror: “Yes I will, and I’ve always said it’s a decade of national renewal, where the legacy we inherited was an appalling legacy on all fronts, not just the economy, which was broken.”
The Prime Minister said his fightback, which starts with a speech on Monday and the King’s Speech on Wednesday, would include a “full throated” pitch to be closer to Europe.
He told the newspaper that his plan would be “really clear that this is about the hope and opportunity of a better future, part of which is a stronger economy and an economy that really works for everyone, wherever they live, whatever they do. There are a number of strands to that, but one is, we have to be closer to Europe, and I just want to be full throated about this”.
He added: “I feel that Brexit has held back our young people. They should be free to work, study, travel in European countries, just as I was able to when I was growing up.
“That has been smashed away from young people because of Brexit. I’m not going to let Brexit stand in the way of their opportunities, and therefore we’ll push forward on that.”
Labour toppled in Lewisham as Greens take control of third London council
The Greens have toppled a huge Labour majority in Lewisham to take control of their third London council.
The party won a majority by winning 30 of the first 39 results to be announced, with Labour taking just nine.
The successful Green candidates included Liam Shrivastava in Crofton Park Ward, although he will give up his council seat after winning the Lewisham mayoral election on Friday.
Labour had 50 seats on the previous council and the Greens only four, and Lewisham became the 12th London council where Sir Keir Starmer’s party lost control, with Hackney and Waltham Forest also being taken by the Greens.
The Conservatives won Westminster, while Barnet, Brent, Enfield, Haringey, Lambeth, Newham, Southwark and Wandsworth all slipped into no overall control.
Fringe party Aspire secures control of only contested borough Tower Hamlets
Aspire has won the Tower Hamlets council election to secure an overall majority in the only London borough where it stands.
The party secured 23 of the first 31 seats to be declared, enough to take back control.
Aspire won 24 seats in the last council election in 2022, but later lost two to defections.
Labour has won four seats, the Greens two and the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives one each.
Aspire leader Lutfur Rahman was re-elected as Tower Hamlets mayor on Friday with almost 39 per cent of the votes.
Reform Scotland MSPs elect leader and deputy leader
Reform UK Scotland’s new MSPs have elected the party’s leader and deputy leader.
The party’s Holyrood group confirmed Thomas Kerr as its deputy while backing Lord Malcolm Offord, who had already been appointed leader by Nigel Farage, for the top spot.
Mr Kerr is a former Tory councillor who defected to Reform last year, and on Friday was confirmed as one of the party’s 17 MSPs at Holyrood.
He was Lord Offord’s de facto deputy and was widely considered to be up for the role, which he said he was “honoured” to accept.
Rise in support for Reform and Greens sees Croydon vote end in no overall control
Croydon has remained under no overall control after both Labour and Conservatives failed to win the London borough.
Labour won 30 seats and remains the largest party presence, while Conservatives secured 27 - both short of the 36 needed for a majority.
Labour came into the election with 34 seats and Conservatives on 33, but the Greens made gains and ended with eight, while two Reform UK and two Liberal Democrat candidates were elected.
Keir Starmer thanks Ken Skates for 'stepping up' as interim Labour leader in Wales
Sir Keir Starmer has thanked Ken Skates for “stepping up” as interim Labour leader in Wales.
It follows yesterday's catastrophic election loss that led to the resignation of Eluned Morgan, who also lost her own seat.
The Prime Minister said a period of “necessary reflection and rebuilding” was required after the disastrous elections for Labour.
He said: “Thank you to Ken Skates for stepping up to provide leadership for Labour in Wales and the Senedd as we begin a period of necessary reflection and rebuilding.
“Ken is a talented and experienced MS, and I know he will do a fantastic job bringing Welsh Labour together and holding the new government to account for working people.”
Another council falls into no overall control as Reform shake Labour's grip
Labour has lost control of Bradford council, having been the favorite in the area since 2014.
The council is now under no overall control, after Labour lost 27 seats, while Reform gained 29 to become the largest party representaion.
The Greens and independents also lost seats, while the Tories in turn gained three.
John Swinney 'locks the door' to Reform despite rising backing in Scotland
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has said he would not be inviting Reform UK to talks in the Scottish Government headquarters in St Andrew’s house.
“I’m not going to do that,” he told journalists, "I am not obliged to invite Reform into St Andrew’s House next week to have discussions with me about how we co-operate together".
He described this as him “setting out the boundaries of my co-operation”, but Reform UK’s Scottish leader Lord Malcolm Offord branded the move “arrogant, petty and deeply undemocratic”.
Lord Offord responded: “This is a disgraceful attempt by John Swinney and the SNP to silence the hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland who are backing Reform UK.
“The SNP can lock the doors of St Andrew’s House if they like, but they cannot shut down the growing demand for real change in Scotland.”
Greens overwhelm Labour in Lambeth and break decade-long hold
Zack Polanski has been open about his anti-monarchist beliefs | GETTYThe Green Party has become the largest party on London's Lambeth council - ending over a decade of Labour control.
Thirty-two Labour councillors lost their seats today, with the Greens gaining 27, and the Liberal Democrats another five.
The borough has historic links to key figures in this Labour government, including Communities Secretary Steve Reed, who led Lambeth council from 2006 to 2012.
Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, was also a Lambeth Labour organiser when Labour recaptured the borough.
John Swinney vows to ‘lock Reform out’ after admitting Nigel Farage ‘on course to become PM’
John Swinney has vowed to “ensure that Nigel Farage and Reform are locked out of governance” as the Scottish National Party looks to secure a pro-independence majority in Holyrood.
The Scottish First Minister was speaking in Edinburgh after his party had emerged as the largest in Holyrood but without a clear majority.
On Friday, the SNP emerged with 58 seats, while Anas Sarwar’s Labour and Malcolm Offord’s Reform tied on 17.
“Nigel Farage’s Reform Party have won seats in the Scottish Parliament,” Mr Swinney began.
The SNP leader accepted that “some people in Scotland support Reform” but claimed their success was a cause of concern for others.
Labour minister concedes ‘we’ve made mistakes’ after local elections defeat
Labour minister Emma Reynolds has conceded Labour has “made some mistakes” after the party lost more than 1,000 wards in the 2026 Local Elections.
Speaking to GB News, the Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary was reacting to the drubbing received in the local elections.
“It has been a terrible set of results… There's no getting away from that,” she began.
“We've had terrible results in local government in England and obviously in the Scottish and Welsh elections as well.”
Keir Starmer insists decision to appoint Labour veterans is 'future-looking'
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his decision to appoint Labour veterans to No10 roles is "future-looking".
Gordon Brown has been appointed as a Special Envoy on Global Fiinance, while Harriet Harman has become an adivser on women and girls.
On the decision, the Prime Minister said: "I want women to have the opportunities that they deserve. I want to be able to tackle misogyny, I’ve made commitments on this and Harriet working with the team is the absolutely right person to do that.
"So, it’s very future-looking, because this is about making sure that every woman has the opportunities that she deserves. And so Harriet will lead on that work, working with the Cabinet, working with the team.
"For Gordon, obviously, one of the big challenges we face is global finance. The war in Iran is causing real problems, economic impact.
"We need more spending on defence and security, that needs to come together around international mechanisms, and Gordon’s got a track record on that, and so that is building the strong economy of the future.
"So, on both fronts, they are very future-looking roles. They are vital to how we strengthen our country and take it forward, and provide the opportunities that give people that hope for a better future."
Keir Starmer admits he ‘hasn’t done enough’ as PM reacts to full scale election defeat
Keir Starmer has admitted he and the Labour Government have not “done enough” following their brutal election defeat.
Speaking in the aftermath today, the Prime Minister said the drubbing had been “really tough” but pledged to battle on depsite calls for him to step down.
“Look, it was really tough, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that. It's really important that we reflect and respond when the electorate send a message like that.
“What I intend to do in the coming days is say how we rebuild, how we convince people about hope for the future."
Thirty Labour MPs call on Keir Starmer to RESIGN as Labour losses hit 1,400
Thirty Labour MPs have defied their leader and called on Sir Keir Starmer to resign as Labour losses hit 1,400 overnight.
The Prime Minister suffered an atrocious 24 hours at the polls after Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat and her party fumbled their 72-year-long grip on the country.
Labour also lost hundreds of councillors across England to Nigel Farage's Reform UK as they watched their grasp on stronghold authorities crumble before their eyes.
Tameside, Blackburn, Gateshead and Sunderland, all in former Labour heartlands, including Angela Rayner's backyard, surrendered control to the populist party on Friday.
Late on Thursday, it was revealed Energy Secretary Ed Miliband privately advised Sir Keir to set out a timetable to bow out of No10 with local elections looming.
On Friday, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan admitted the "threat to Labour is existential" without a radical overhaul.
And, now, more than 30 of Sir Keir's juniors have followed suit and called for his head.
Richard Burgon, Graham Stringer and John McDonnell are among those calling for the Prime Minister to step down.
However, more surprising outcries come from former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.
Simon Opher, the MP for Stroud, vowed Sir Keir could not carry Labour through the next general election – nor could he "stop the far right entering No10".
Meanwhile, rebel Nadia Whittome slammed Labour top chiefs for "doubling down on Reform-lite policies", calling for the return of Labour for working-class communities.
Keir Starmer fights against calls to quit as he announces plans to set out 'convictions and values that drive him' in coming days
Sir Keir Starmer has fought against calls to quit as he announced plans to set out the "convictions and values that drive him" within the coming days.
He refused to "walk away" and insisted that his resignation would "plunge the country into chaos".
The beleaguered PM added: "But that doesn’t mean we don’t need to respond. It doesn’t mean we don’t need to rebuild. It doesn’t mean that we don’t need to set out the path ahead.
"That’s what I’m going to do in the coming days."
Tories blast 'disastrous' appointments of Labour veterans as Keir Starmer clings to No10
The Conservatives has blasted the pair of "disastrous" appointments of Harriet Harman and Gordon Brown to top No10 roles.
The appointments come as part of Sir Keir's attempt to rejig his No10 team as part of a Government "reset".
Nevertheless, a Tory spokesman said: "His record on political appointees is as disastrous as his record on the economy, energy and defence.
"If this is how Starmer plans to 'reset', the Labour leadership contest can't start soon enough."
Donald Trump congratulates SNP leader John Swinney but doesn't mention Nigel Farage after Reform surge
US President Donald Trump has congratulated John Swinney following the Scottish National Party's fifth consecutive election win.
Mr Trump, who proudly boasts about his mother's Scottish roots, said: “Congratulations to John Swinney on winning his Re-Election for First Minister of Scotland.
“He is a good man, who worked very hard, along with the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, with respect to Tariff relief for Great Scottish Whiskey — and deserves this Big Electoral Victory! President DONALD J TRUMP.”
The SNP secured the most seats in Holyrood, winning 58 out of 129.
Nigel Farage issues fiery warning after Blairite grandee returned to No10
Nigel Farage has issued a fiery warning after Gordon Brown was appointed to a top No10 role this morning.
His appointment comes as part of Sir Keir Starmer's "reset" following a devastating set of election results.
The Reform UK chief said: "An unpopular Prime Minister who lost a general election is now seen by Starmer as being the saviour. Labour are doomed."
Meanwhile, party economics spokesman Robert Jenrick chimed in with a damning response as well.
"Genius," he sarcastically slung. "Bring back the guy who gave away our gold reserves to advise on 'economic resilience'.
"What could possibly go wrong?"
Gordon Brown appointed as PM's Special Envoy on Global Finance in bid to 'reset' party
Gordon Brown has been appointed as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Global Finance in bid to "reset" the party's outlook.
It comes as part of Sir Keir Starmer's attempt to renovate his team following a set of historic losses at the polls.
Downing Street added Sir Keir is committed to boosting the UK's security and resilience and Mr Brown's appointment will come as part of that effort.
"As part of the role he will engage with international leaders and finance institutions as well as private finance partners to establish multilateral finance mechanisms," he said.
Gordon Brown meets PM in Downing Street as part of PM's 'next steps' plan
Gordon Brown has been spotted outside No10 as he met with Sir Keir Starmer to discuss the PM's "next steps".
He could be seen shaking hands with the leadership embattled PM on the steps on No10.
GB News's Charlie Peters pointed to the possibility Sir Keir could bring Mr Brown back to Government to unite his team - just as former PM Rishi Sunak brought back David Cameron as Foreign Secretary during his premiership.
Keir Starmer appoints Harriet Harman as PM's adviser on Women and Girls
Keir Starmer has appointed Harriet Harman as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls in a Cabinet revamp.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Keir Starmer said yesterday he would set out the next steps in his plan to build a stronger and fairer Britain in the coming days.
"Today he has appointed Harriet Harman as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls.
"The PM committed to do more to eradicate structural misogyny and achieve a cultural change. This appointment will help to accelerate progress."
Plaid Cymru and SNP victories leave UK under threat as pro-independence parties hatch plot to break up Union
Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has admitted she intends to work with her expected counterparts in Scotland and Wales to break up the United Kingdom.
The Scottish National Party secured yet another landslide win in Scotland, while Plaid Cymru is on the cusp of gaining power in Wales for the first time.
Throwing her support behind John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth, Ms O'Neill said that it was “the first time ever there could be three pro-independence First Ministers across these islands".
She also claimed that the election results show that the “growing demand for independence cannot be ignored".
Sadiq Khan calls for change as he warns Labour faces 'existential threat'
Sir Sadiq Khan has called for change as he warned Labour is facing an "existential threat".
Following the devastating set of local election results, the Mayor of London said the city's results "speak to a far-reaching disillusionment and fracturing in our politics, which cannot be downplayed, spun or dismissed".
"Without a change in course and an acceleration in delivery, the threat to Labour is existential," he declared.
"We risk a repeat in London, Wales and across England of what happened in Scotland, where we have still not recovered."
RECAP: The winners and losers of the local elections so far
Reform surged across the nation, gaining more than 1,442 seats, while the Greens also made hundreds of unprecedented gains, reaching 515 councillors so far.
Meanwhile, Labour lost 1,406 seats in a historic set of electoral losses for the longstanding party.
The Conservatives' loss was not as staggering, although the Tories lost some 557 representatives across the country.
The Liberal Democrats made a gain of 151 councillors, winning the title of third place behind Reform UK and Labour.
ENGLAND COUNCIL RESULTS:
- Reform: 1,444 (+1,442)
- Labour: 997 (-1,406)
- Liberal Democrats: 834 (+151)
- Tories: 773 (-557)
- Green: 515 (+374)
- Independents: 199 (+27)
Boris Johnson pours praise on Kemi Badenoch's 'bounce and zap' during campaign
Boris Johnson has poured lavish praise over his successor Kemi Badenoch's "bounce and zap" during the local election campaign.
"She seems fresher and more full of bounce and zap than her rivals," the former Prime Minister noted.
"She has a fearlessness and knowledge of her own mind that are enjoyable to watch – and a positive tonic by comparison with the stammering glottal machine language of the Prime Minister. At the time of writing, she also seems to have done better than forecast at the ballot box," he added, writing in the Daily Mail.
Mr Johnson also ceded that Reform "did well - but not as well as expected" while appearing keen that Mrs Badenoch can "close the gap".
Keir Starmer demands 'break with status quo' after devastating local election losses
Sir Keir Starmer has demanded a "break with the status quo" after a devastating set of local election losses.
The PM added he would take "responsibility" for the loss of more than 1,400 councillors across the nation, ceding he had made "unnecessary mistakes" during his premiership.
"This time things will be different. We must break with the status quo once and for all by building a stronger and fairer country," he said, writing in The Guardian.
"A stronger country – where family finances are not at the whim of tyrants such as Vladimir Putin, and where we stand shoulder to shoulder with our European allies to rebuild our defences, grow our economy and secure our future.
"And a fairer country – where every child has the chance to thrive, where opportunity is not reserved for those who are born with it, and where people can look at their town, their workplace and their country with pride and hope."
Longest-serving Labour MP piles pressure on Keir Starmer to step down
The longest-serving Labour MP has piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to step down.
Clive Betts, the MP for Sheffield South East since 1992, urged Cabinet ministers to say Sir Keir should move out of No10 "in the not too distant future".
"What people said repeatedly was we might vote Labour, we’ve always voted Labour, we might vote Labour again, but not while Keir is the leader. It was repeated over and over again," the MP told the BBC.
"That’s a real problem going forward. I don’t think rebooting and refreshing is going to make any difference.
"Unfortunately, the public, by and large, has just stopped listening to Keir. They have made their minds up."
Wes Streeting refuses to back Keir Starmer to head up Labour into next election
Wes Streeting has failed to give Sir Keir Starmer the public backing to lead Labour into the next election.
The Prime Minister's leadership rival refused to say whether his boss should lead the party by the next time a general election is held.
The Health Secretary said: "Keir Starmer won a general election in 2024 that people thought was absolutely impossible after Labour’s crushing defeat in 2019.
"Now, there’s no doubt that with the message that the voters have sent us across England, Wales and Scotland, that the Government bears a huge degree of responsibility for good Labour people losing."
IN FULL: List of Labour MPs calling for Keir Starmer to step down
- David Baines (St Helens North)
- Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree)
- Apsana Begum (Poplar and Limehouse)
- Olivia Blake (Sheffield Hallam)
- Jonathan Brash (Hartlepool)
- Richard Burgon (Leeds East)
- Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby)
- Beccy Cooper (Worthing West)
- Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole)
- Louise Haigh (Sheffield Heeley)
- Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire)
- Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside)
- Ruth Jones (Newport West and Islywn)
- Peter Lamb (Crawley)
- Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington)
- Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth)
- Clive Lewis (Norwich South)
- Rachael Maskell (York Central)
- Andy McDonald (Middlesborough and Thornaby East)
- John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington)
- Anneliese Midgley (Knowsley)
- Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central)
- Connor Naismith (Crewe and Nantwich)
- Simon Opher (Stroud)
- Kate Osborne (Jarrow and Gateshead East)
- Euan Stainbank (Falkirk)
- Graham Stringer (Blackley and Middleton South)
- Jon Trickett (Normanton and Hemsworth)
- Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East)
- Sarah Owen (Luton North)