The essentials
Labour faces major local election losses amid Starmer's historic approval rating low of 30%.
British voters will hold local elections on May 22, 2025, with projections indicating significant losses for both major parties. The Labour Party is projected to lose up to 2,000 seats in English local contests, representing a substantial setback for the governing party. This comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer's approval rating has reached a historic low of 30%, signaling declining public confidence in his leadership.
Despite these projected local election losses, Labour currently holds 70% of UK parliamentary seats, maintaining a commanding majority in Westminster. The Conservative Party is also projected to suffer losses, with estimates suggesting approximately 600 seat losses across local authorities. The divergence between Westminster control and local election performance reflects the volatile nature of mid-term politics for governing parties.
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Governing party confronts steep local election losses amid voter dissatisfaction
Labour's projected loss of up to 2,000 seats in local elections reflects voter dissatisfaction with the current government. Starmer's approval rating at 30% indicates eroding public confidence. Despite these challenges, Labour's commanding 70% of parliamentary seats provides stability for the national government through the remainder of the current parliament.
Both major parties face electoral headwinds in upcoming local contests
The May 22 elections will test voter sentiment across both major parties. While Labour faces the larger projected loss of 2,000 seats, the Conservative Party's anticipated 600-seat loss suggests broader dissatisfaction extends across the political spectrum. These results will provide early indicators of public sentiment ahead of potential future parliamentary elections.