Labour loses 11 councillors in by-election defeats in just three months as pressure mounts

Labour has been hit with a dozen by-election defeats in less than a month as it finds itself plunged into controversy.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party has lost council seats across the country since mid-September, in a blow to his premiership in his first months in office.

Labour has had a net loss of 11 councillors since September 16, with analysts warning that the by-election results confirm the "lack of honeymoon" for the Prime Minister, with voters already looking to "punish" Labour.

It comes after weeks of negative headlines for the Government over Sir Keir and other Cabinet ministers accepting donations and freebies.

Reform UK secured a win in a Heanor & Loscoe Town Council in Derbyshire and in Marton, Blackpool, from Labour. The latter was described by Lee Anderson, the party’s whip and Ashfield MP, as a "political tsunami."

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have gained five council seats from Labour in areas such as St Albans, Worthing in Sussex and in Wales.

The Green Party won the Scotforth East by-election for Lancaster City Council, strengthening its number of councillors as the district's biggest political group.

In Scotland, the SNP have won by-elections for Dundee City Council, with Scottish Labour losing a seat in Lochee.

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The next local elections, excluding by-elections, are scheduled for May 2025 These polls may see Labour take further losses at a local level as council elections are often seen by dissatisfied voters as a chance to show their frustration with the party in government.

Writing about Reform UK's successes, Lee Anderson MP said: "A political tsunami is coming our way. Massive gain here from Labour - This is how the path to victory in 2029 starts."

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: "This is a fantastic double-win for the SNP and a real vote of confidence from the people of Lochee and Strathmartine.

"Our incredible candidates Lee Mills and Jimmy Black – alongside our amazing activists – took the SNP’s positive message to voters on doorsteps across Dundee and repeatedly heard about betrayal felt following the first few weeks of a Labour Government."

The results come as The Prime Minister received thousands of pounds from Lord Alli, a Labour peer, for glasses and clothing, including for his wife, and the use of an £18 million penthouse during the election campaign.

Members of his frontbench team have also declared large donations from the peer.Cabinet ministers have come under scrutiny for accepting freebies such as concert and football match tickets.

Sir Keir last week announced that he would be giving back more than £6,000 for the freebies he had received since entering Downing Street, but said his colleagues did not need to follow suit.