Kim McGuinness says Keir Starmer on ‘borrowed time’

A drubbing for Sir Keir Starmer’s party in local elections across the region came as Reform UK celebrated sweeping successes, with the Greens and Lib Dems cementing their council spots.

An overnight count in Hartlepool paved fhe way for day of disappointment for Labour, as it lost control of the council, its leader lost her seat, and Reform won all of the 12 up for election. No single party took overall control.

The Labour leaders of Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside councils were also toppled as Nigel Farage’s party took control of each. In Newcastle, Labour leader Karen Kilgour lost her seat, with the party limping to just two seats as the Echo went to print last night.

In Sunderland, Labour had been in charge for more than 50 years, with the party entering the election with around 50 seats, but that tally was reduced to just six.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness earlier warned Sir Keir is on “borrowed time”, but did not call for him to step down.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Friday , Ms McGuinness said the Prime Minister “has got to get this turned around and get it turned around urgently”.

She said: “I think he is on borrowed time. I think there is an opportunity now to demonstrate that the people of the country have been understood, but Keir needs to show he speaks the same language as the people of our region and he wants the same things. 

“I think he does, I think he hears that. But he is now on borrowed time as far as I am concerned. He has a very short window to turn this around and do it very, very quickly.”

Jarrow and Gateshead East MP Kate Osborne said “we saw this coming from last year’s local results”, which saw Reform take control of Durham County Council.

She has also called for the Prime Minister to step down.

Ms Osborne said: “I heard it from constituents and on the doorsteps when I have been out and so far the results are telling us that people are disillusioned and not happy with Labour. 

“Locally, I know I’ve delivered for the community but they’re not seeing change quick enough and that is why we are where we are.

“Many of my colleagues and I have been trying to get the current Labour leadership to listen and change direction, but they have refused to listen.

“So yes, I do blame the relationship and yes, I do think Keir needs to resign.”

A Reform UK spokesman said their successes signaled a “rejection of Labour and Keir Starmer”.

They said: “Our advance in the red wall is something the pollsters and experts didn’t predict.

“In places like Sunderland we have completely replaced the Labour Party.

“This is not just a rejection of labour and Keir Starmer, but also an endorsement of Reform’s record in local councils in places like Durham.”

The wife of Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash, council leader Pamela Hargreaves, lost her council seat to Reform. He called the losses a “terrible night for Labour”.

He added: “I would say quite clearly tonight that the Prime Minister needs to set out a timetable for his own resignation and an orderly transition to a leader who can inspire the confidence of people here in Hartlepool and across the country, who will set out the bold vision that can actually make people’s lives better, because that’s what’s missing.”

While veteran Labour MP Ian Lavery, who was party chairman under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, said it is time for the current leader to go.

Mr Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington, said: “The Labour Party has suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in its history.

“Hundreds of excellent councillors have lost their seats, and many more candidates have been unsuccessful. There is no doubt that responsibility for this defeat falls squarely on the shoulders of the party leadership.

“It is ironic that those now arguing that ‘changing the leader would bring unnecessary chaos’ are, in many cases, the same people who fuelled internal chaos just under a decade ago, when Labour under Corbyn was polling far stronger than it is today. Are we not already in a state of chaos?

“To colleagues calling for ‘stability’, I say this: are you simply asking for the patient to be made comfortable rather than cured?

“It is time for Keir Starmer to go. If he is unwilling to step aside with dignity and set out a clear timetable, then a leadership challenge must follow.”

Reform have taken control of Sunderland City Council and Gateshead Council, while H

At the time of writing, Labour is yet to win a seat on Newcastle City Council.