Local election results live: Starmer turns to Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman as pressure mounts over losses

Speaking to The Independent, Laila Cunningham, Reform’s candidate for London mayor, was critical of the way that talk of “mass deportations” played into the hands of her party’s opponents in the capital.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will “not walk away” and that the “right thing to do is rebuild” following a devastating set of local election results.

The prime minster says he will “set out the path ahead” as he seeks to reset his premiership, amid growing pressure from his own MPs to quit.

It follows Labour losing more than 1,400 seats as well as control of both the Senedd in Wales and 37 councils across England.

But speaking to broadcasters in south London this lunchtime, the PM said that while the results were “really tough” and he’s “not going to sugercoat that”, he is “not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos”.

“I think the right thing to do is to rebuild and show the path forward,” he insisted.

He added: “I think we have to set out the path ahead. And that’s what I intend to do in coming days. How we rebuild, how we convince people about hope for the future. And we haven’t done enough of that.

“So I will be setting that out with clarity about my convictions and my values – what drives me forward on this.”

He added that his government did “make a number of really important calls in the last couple of years”, touching on his handling of the economy, public services and the Iran war.

He added: “Of course, we face difficult circumstances…. but my job is to combine rising to those challenges with the hope and opportunity that gives people that real sense that things can get better and will.”

Keir Starmer has announced former prime minister Gordon Brown will serve as a special envoy on global finance, while Baroness Harriet Harman has been appointed an adviser on women and girls.

The SNP should not allow Scottish politics to be “distracted” by another independence referendum after its election victory, the Liberal Democrats have said.

UK Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey made the comments after the election result means the Scottish Parliament now has its highest-ever number of MSPs who support independence, with 73 MSPs from the SNP and Scottish Greens returned.

While visiting Newhaven, Edinburgh, on Saturday Mr Davey said that despite the pro-independence numbers rising in Scotland, the SNP would have “no mandate” for another referendum.

He said: “(John Swinney) said if the SNP got a majority that would give him a mandate. They didn’t, they went backwards in vote share numbers of MSPs elected to the SNP.

“So, they’ve actually got no mandate for doing that and I really hope they won’t allow Scottish politics to be distracted by that.

“Yet again, there’s so many serious issues. People are really struggling and can’t get GP appointments, they can’t afford the food on the table, they can’t afford their energy bills.

“Surely a responsible government will ensure this new parliament focuses on things like matter to families and pensioners and businesses across Scotland.”

Mr Davey said the Lib Dems would oppose a referendum if it was granted by the Prime Minister as Sir Keir Starmer faces increasing pressure as he tries to remain in Downing Street in the wake of poor election results for Labour across the UK.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats saw their number of seats increase to 10 after the election.

Labour has lost control of Birmingham City Council after 14 years, prompting the Home Secretary to describe the outcome as “a devastating night in Birmingham and across the country”.

Counting for the remaining seats was halted on Friday night with no party securing an overall majority amid a fragmented five-party split.

The end of Labour’s long-standing leadership in the city followed significant gains by Reform, the Green Party, and a block of independent candidates.

Shabana Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010, acknowledged the setback, stating that prime minister Sir Keir Starmer “has rightly said we must do better”.

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

A growing number of Labour MPs are joining the calls for Sir Keir Starmer to resign in the wake of this week’s disastrous election results.

The prime minister has vowed to stay and fight on despite dozens of members of his own party demanding he step down.

Labour MP for Bradford East Imran Hussain called the results “disastrous” and said hope for change has been “squandered by terrible political choices”.

He wrote on X: “It is clear Keir Starmer has fought his last election as Labour leader, and I think he will know that too. The party should now set out a timetable for an orderly transition to a new leader by the end of the year.”

However, he called for the party to restrain from “coups” or “Tory-style chaos”, amid speculation some could be preparing to launch leadership bids.

The SNP and the Greens have a joint “mandate to deliver” a second vote on independence, Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer has declared, insisting that the Prime Minister – or his successor – must “respect” this.

Mr Greer spoke out as Sir Keir Starmer faces increasing pressure as he tries to remain in Downing Street, in the wake of poor election results for Labour across the UK.

In Scotland, Labour returned just 17 MSPs – well behind the 58 won by John Swinney’s SNP, and their lowest number at any devolved election.

Speaking in the aftermath of the results, Mr Greer stressed that votes for both his party and Mr Swinney’s formed a mandate from voters for another independence ballot.

Telling BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme that “independence is urgently needed”, Mr Greer said that his party “went into this election committed to achieving Scottish independence, and full membership of the European Union”.

He added: “If parties win a majority in parliament and they have manifestos commitment then they have a mandate to deliver on those manifesto commitments.”

Sir Keir Starmer has posted on social media to pledge Labour “will build a stronger Britain”.

It comes after Downing Street announced two senior Labour figures would take on new roles as special advisers and envoys in the government.

Baroness Harriet Harman will be an adviser on women and girls, while former prime minister will be a special envoy on global finance.

The Wales Green Party is “open to having conversations” with Plaid Cymru over the next Welsh government, the party leader has said.

In a statement, Anthony Slaughter said: “We welcome the defeat of Reform and congratulate Plaid Cymru on their result – this is a victory for everyone who wanted to keep Reform’s divisive, Trumpian politics out of Wales.

“We are a welcoming nation – and Wales needs to stay a place where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, and can thrive.

“When it comes to the next government of Wales, we are open to having conversations, but no decisions have been made at this point.

“In any negotiations we will be looking to deliver on the Green objectives that people voted on in this election – including action to address the cost-of-living crisis, protecting our NHS, fixing the renting crisis and restoring our natural environment.”