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UK Labour dealt blow as far-right Reform surges, Greens gain in local elections

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party was facing heavy losses as results began to come in from local elections across the country on Friday morning, while the far-right Reform UK party surged and the far-left, anti-Israel Green Party registered gains.

Most results from the election on Thursday were expected to come in later on the following day. But as of early Friday morning, Labour had already lost control of five local councils out of 25 that had declared results, and lost more than 100 seats in total.

The anti-immigrant Reform, meanwhile, had gained nearly 200 seats across the local councils.

The Greens had more modest gains as of Friday morning, picking up 12 seats by 5 a.m. local time (7 a.m. Israel time), according to The Telegraph.

Labour’s losses were set to heap more pressure on beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and showcase the rise of the hard-right and left-wing populist parties, both of which face accusations of antisemitism and bigotry at a time when Jews in the UK are under increasing threat.

The result could amplify calls for Starmer, 63, to resign or finally face a long-rumored party leadership challenge.

“The picture has been pretty much as bad as anyone expected for Labour, or worse,” said John Curtice, Britain’s most respected pollster.

The elections for 136 local councils in England, alongside the........

© The Times of Israel