Labour in crisis: It loses three seats on the city council due to voter reaction | Politics | News

Labour suffered three major setbacks in the local elections as voters revolted against cuts to winter heating subsidies.

The Conservatives took two seats on the city council from Labour last night and a third just two nights ago.

In the marine constituency of Worthing, the Tories won the seat by 12% over Labour.

In Westminster’s West End district, the Tories won the seat by 9.5% over Labour.

Just two days ago, the Tories won Gedling, a key Red Wall Party constituency they won in 2019 but lost in July, by 14.3% over Labour.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats also benefited from Labour’s growing political problems last night, recording a massive 27 percent increase in the vote, earning them a seat on Bromsgrove Council.

And in Hartlepool, Reform UK came dangerously close to taking a seat on the city council: Labour lost seven percentage points, while Farage’s party gained 23.9 percent.

Last night, left-wing journalist Aaron Bastani noted: “In three local government by-elections tonight, Labour has lost 19%, 19% and 29%.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing and everything is fine…”

“It is suspected that many good Labour councillors will lose their constituencies next May because Starmer simply cannot say no to free designer ties and glasses.

“A bizarre and puzzling start to his term as Prime Minister.”

Meanwhile, the Tories celebrated their victories. Candidate for the 2024 election, Anthony Boutall, cheered: “This is a phenomenal result and it shows that the @Conservatives are back in London!”

His 2024 running mate Johnny Luk noted: “This and several other results from today’s local by-elections suggest a noticeable decline in support for Labour.”

“No honeymoon for her.”

Former Tory MP Chris Clarkson added: “Brutally… this dishonest, greedy, arrogant government is already being exposed for what it really is.”

Councillor Aled Thomas said: “It was a terrible night for Labour.”

Another X-user pointed out that the Tories took over the Oxford Street district from Labour, just days after Sadiq Khan overruled Westminster City Council and pushed through plans to pedestrianise the famous shopping street.

Author Ben Cobley warned: “Labour has begun its honeymoon phase by losing local council by-elections to the despised Tories.”

However, Ben Walker of polling service Britain Elects warned that Labour could still have luck in next May’s local elections, as many of them are county constituencies that have not seen elections since 2021, so Labour could still make big gains.

The result in Marine (Worthing) was highlighted by former Jeremy Corbyn adviser Andrew Fisher, who noted: “It’s a district with a large proportion of pensioners.”

The rebuke of the Labour Party comes after weeks of disputes within the party, which have included cuts to winter heating allowances for pensioners, Sue Gray’s salary and Sir Keir’s sleazy “free tickets for glasses” dispute in connection with free donations from super-rich donors.