Labours Blame Game Commences with Reform Results Fallout

[Social Media]

 

The local election results have sent shockwaves through the British political establishment, signalling a potential end to the traditional two-party dominance. Both Labour and the Conservatives have been left reeling, with the Reform Party making significant inroads into their respective voter bases.

 

In Doncaster, Mayor Ros Jones should have been celebrating her fourth consecutive term in office. Instead, she used her narrow 698-vote victory over Reform as a platform to criticise Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Her frustration was clear as she denounced three controversial Labour policies: cuts to the winter fuel allowance, proposed welfare reforms, and the hike in the employers’ rate of national insurance. “I think national government needs to look and see what people are saying,” she said. “I think the results here tonight demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street and actually deliver for the people, with the people.”

 

In stark contrast, Nigel Farage was jubilant in Runcorn & Helsby after Reform secured its first by-election win, narrowly beating Labour by just six votes. “Think about the swing, think about the change,” he proclaimed. “This is heartland Labour party, their vote has collapsed and much of it has come to us. That does away with the media narrative that somehow it’s us versus the Conservatives. We are smashing into the Labour vote in many parts of the north. It’s a phenomenal night.”

 

The results underscore a dramatic shift in British politics. In Durham, once a Labour stronghold, Reform seized control of the county council. Reform also claimed the Hull mayoralty and made historic gains across the country, including in Staffordshire, where they rose from no representation to a clear majority.

 

The Conservative Party’s performance was even more dismal. Having lost the Great Lincolnshire mayoralty to Reform and a host of local authorities, the Tories are watching their influence diminish rapidly. Former cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested that the Tories and Reform are ideologically aligned, saying, “In terms of policy, there’s very little difference between the Conservative Party and Reform. It’s basically a matter of personality. I think we need to work together.”

 

Labour, meanwhile, is scrambling to maintain control of the narrative. Starmer has pledged to “go further and faster” with his change agenda. Measures in the pipeline include a new migration white paper aimed at restricting foreign students’ ability to stay in the UK without graduate employment, and tougher rules on companies hiring foreign workers.

 

Plans are also advancing for return hubs to deport failed asylum seekers to countries in the western Balkans, with Starmer expected to discuss further agreements during an EU summit in Tirana, Albania. Additionally, a strategic defence review is set to be published in the coming weeks.

 

“I get it,” Starmer wrote in The Times. “The lesson of these elections isn’t that the country needs more politicians’ promises or ideological zealotry. It isn’t that there is some easy solution, as promised by our opponents. It’s that now is the time to crank up the pace on giving people the country they are crying out for.”

 

But dissent within Labour is growing. Dan Carden, chair of the Blue Labour group, said the party has a “long way to go to restore trust” following unpopular benefit cuts. MP Rachael Maskell added, “People are desperate to find hope in politics and if Labour fails to provide and protect then people will look in other places.” Another minister bluntly concluded, “The hope that was promised has evaporated.”

 

The upcoming parliamentary vote on welfare reform, expected in June, is shaping up to be a decisive moment. As Labour chair Ellie Reeves urged the party to accelerate reforms, one MP quipped, “What — over the cliff?”

 

With Reform on the rise, Labour is preparing to intensify its scrutiny of Nigel Farage’s party, now seen as the main opposition force. Whether that approach can reverse the erosion of public support remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Britain’s political landscape has shifted — perhaps permanently.

 

Related Topics:

Farage’s Political Earthquake Begins to Rattle Britain’s Foundations

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-05

 

 

[JonnyF]

Labour got elected because The Tories let everyone down. Their whole campaign was nothing more than "We are not The Tories". 

 

Now Labour have let everyone down, but even more than The Tories did. 

 

It was inevitable that people would look for an alternative to the 2 main parties, because they are both massive failures who have betrayed the indigenous people of Britain. 

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

“In terms of policy, there’s very little difference between the Conservative Party and Reform. It’s basically a matter of personality. I think we need to work together.”

Nah, it's easier than that, basically no conservative voter will accept a non-white leader.

BadEnoch is Britain's Kamala ....... unelectable unless slipped in with nobody given a vote.

[JAG]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Nah, it's easier than that, basically no conservative voter will accept a non-white leader.

BadEnoch is Britain's Kamala ....... unelectable unless slipped in with nobody given a vote.

Well, I am a habitual Conservative voter, and I would vote for her.

 

If you are right in that analysis then I am done with the Conservative Party. If that leaves me politically homeless so be it.

[RayC]

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Nah, it's easier than that, basically no conservative voter will accept a non-white leader.

BadEnoch is Britain's Kamala ....... unelectable unless slipped in with nobody given a vote.

 

So do you think that replacing Badenoch with Jenrick is all it will take to restore the Tory vote to 2019 levels?

[CG1 Blue]

36 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

So do you think that replacing Badenoch with Jenrick is all it will take to restore the Tory vote to 2019 levels?

I think a commitment to leaving the ECHR (UK already has it's own Human Rights Act), and a robust plan to deter the small boat Channel crossings would put the Tories back on top. It's as simple as that IMO. 

Every member of the public I saw being interviewed after these elections talked about stopping the boats. 

The Tories couldn't stop the boats, and that's why they were crushed at the last GE. Labour are even worse, with illegal migrants breaking all Channel crossing records!

 

It's so obvious this is THE issue holding the key to power in the UK. And that's why Reform will continue their rise unless the Tories change course on illegal migration. 

[RayC]

4 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

I think a commitment to leaving the ECHR (UK already has it's own Human Rights Act), and a robust plan to deter the small boat Channel crossings would put the Tories back on top. It's as simple as that IMO. 

Every member of the public I saw being interviewed after these elections talked about stopping the boats. 

The Tories couldn't stop the boats, and that's why they were crushed at the last GE. Labour are even worse, with illegal migrants breaking all Channel crossing records!

 

It's so obvious this is THE issue holding the key to power in the UK. And that's why Reform will continue their rise unless the Tories change course on illegal migration. 

 

I don't think that the vast majority of the electorate are overly bothered by our membership of the ECHR in its' own right. However, imo illegal migration is an issue but not THE issue, and I certainly don't think that it holds the key to power. 

 

Imo when it comes to general elections, the public are more concerned with the economy - more specifically what the parties' policies mean for their pockets, health provision i.e. the NHS, and crime i.e. whether they feel safe: Immigration - both legal and illegal - is an issue and it may be growing in importance but I don't think that it is of primary concern for most of the electorate.

[hotandsticky]

16 hours ago, JAG said:

Well, I am a habitual Conservative voter, and I would vote for her.

 

If you are right in that analysis then I am done with the Conservative Party. If that leaves me politically homeless so be it.

 

 

I abstained at the last General Election as the Conservatives were not worthy of my vote and I couldn't bring myself to support Starmer.

[DonniePeverley]

Chill out. Reform have less seats than the Green party. 

 

 

There is very little you can do at council level too in regards to national policy. They have to adhere to national government policy, or merely every request will go to appeal and be approved. 

 

Hyperbole from the media at it's worst. 

[JAG]

5 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I abstained at the last General Election as the Conservatives were not worthy of my vote and I couldn't bring myself to support Starmer.

As I did.