Starmer rejects resignation calls after Labour's local election losses

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday he plans to remain in office despite his ruling Labour Party suffering among its worst local election losses in decades, rejecting growing calls for his resignation.

"I'm not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos," Starmer told the BBC following the release of final results from local and regional elections held across the United Kingdom.

Labour lost 1,000 local council seats across England and was removed from power in Wales after 27 years in control. Anti-immigration party Reform U.K. won almost 1,300 seats across England, came second in Wales and made significant gains in Scotland.

Speaking to media at AFC Wimbledon in south London on Saturday afternoon, Starmer acknowledged that the government had made "unnecessary mistakes" during its first two years in office. He said the administration had "rightly" levelled with the public about the country's financial and international challenges, but failed to adequately communicate how change would improve people's lives.

"The hope wasn't there enough in the first two years of this government," Starmer said. "That's why it's important for me now to set out where hope resides."

Starmer said he would be "setting out with clarity the convictions and values that drive me" in the coming days as he seeks to reset his leadership. He outlined his vision for young people, stating that hope resides in ensuring they have "the future to go as far as their talent or ability will take them."

"The right thing to do is rebuild and show the path forward," Starmer said. "That's what I'm going to do in the coming days."

The election results were widely seen as an unofficial referendum on Starmer, whose popularity has declined significantly since he led the centre-left party to power less than two years ago. Some Labour members have called for him to step aside, according to local media reports.

In response to the electoral setback, Starmer appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as global finance envoy. Brown has been credited with playing a key role in international efforts to stabilize banks during the global financial crisis.

The dire election results did not produce an immediate challenge to Starmer's leadership on Saturday.