Local election results live: Starmer faces mounting pressure from MPs and unions over heavy losses

Sir Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure from MPs and trade unions after Labour suffered a disastrous local election defeat.

A string of Labour MPs have broken ranks to call for his resignation as the prime minister was blamed for losing hundreds of councillors in England and a major humiliation in Wales.

Labour haemorrhaged support in former strongholds while Reform UK made huge gains and Plaid Cymru became the largest party in a Senedd election that left outgoing First Minister Eluned Morgan without a seat.

Critics turning on Sir Keir include Louise Haigh, his former transport secretary. Ms Haigh said he could not lead the party into the next election unless he delivered “significant and urgent change”.

Andrea Egan, the general secretary of Unison, Britain’s largest union and one of Labour’s biggest financial backers, warned that the party faced “oblivion” unless Sir Keir stepped down, calling for a change to “not just the leader but the entire approach”.

Sharon Graham, the boss of Unite the Union, said he faced a choice to “change or die”.

Sir Keir Starmer said earlier he is “hurt” but is “not going to walk away”, despite losing much of the party’s grip of historic northern English heartlands with major losses in Tameside, Hartlepool and Wigan.

After winning control of Essex County Council, Nigel Farage said his party “haven’t just crushed the ‘red wall’, we’ve crushed the blue wall as well”.

The Green Party has also enjoyed success, notably winning the Hackney mayoral election, ousting Labour.