Labour is experiencing an electoral bloodbath, losing scores of seats across Britain - while Reform and the Greens gain seats across the UK. Is it time for Starmer to step aside?

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As I speak, the Labour Party knows this is bad, very bad for them. The only questions are how bad it is and what to do next. Hold or fold on Keir Starmer? The jury is still out, although he says he will stay.

Reform UK took enough votes in Brexit-backing areas to claim the night as theirs, but Nigel Farage’s assertion that his is the only truly national party feels premature to me. There is no doubting his impact, or his party’s impact, on our politics, though. It is entirely possible that he reaches Number 10.

The Tories are down but not out, having won Westminster, but it's a long road to recovery, and they know it. It's funny how Brexit is still eating them alive, isn't it? This time, Nigel Farage is the shark circling the boat.

That other populist, Zack Polanski, will be pleased with the Greens' performance. Plenty more results are still to come in areas where they can realistically win.

The Liberal Democrats swept the board in one London borough, winning more than half the vote. They, too, will be pleased with their performance overall.

So where does that leave us? With five big parties, and a political system that looks more fragmented by the election. Perhaps this is the end of red-and-blue dominance. Perhaps not. But it is certainly harder than ever to argue that British politics still fits comfortably into a two-party frame.

Proportional representation, anyone?

Only one sure thing can be deduced from last night’s council elections, and I’m sorry to disappoint Mr Farage, but Reform PLC winning the next general election isn’t it.

No. The only certainty to be drawn from this latest........

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