‘Very disappointing’: Sadiq Khan warns Labor faces ‘existential threat’ after defeat in London local polls

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called on Labor to change course after suffering a heavy defeat in London’s local elections, saying the results reflected “profound disillusionment” among voters and that the party faced an “existential” threat if it failed to change course.In a strongly worded statement following the election results, Khan described the results as “a huge disappointment for London Labor” and acknowledged that many traditional supporters had stopped supporting the party.“Many people who voted Labor at the last general election are clearly angry, disillusioned and disappointed,” the London mayor said, adding that voters were frustrated by the current leadership’s “slow pace of change”.

“If we don’t change course, the threat is there”

Khan stopped short of explicitly backing Labor leader Keir Starmer but instead called for a major rethink in political strategy and implementation.“Labour faces an existential threat if it does not change course and accelerate delivery,” Khan warned. “We risk a repeat of what happened in Scotland in London, in Wales and across England, but we still have not recovered from Scotland.”The comments were seen as one of the harshest public interventions yet by a senior Labor figure after the party performed poorly at local elections.

Progressive voting shift reshapes London map

The election saw Labor lose control of several councils in the capital, while rival progressive parties made significant gains in areas traditionally seen as Labor strongholds.The Greens gained control of London’s parliament for the first time and won mayoral posts in several boroughs, underscoring a major shift among younger and urban voters. Labor also suffered setbacks in north London, long seen as a safe area.In parts of Tottenham and Haringey, Green candidates made significant gains, while in the prime minister’s home borough of Camden, Labor retained control but lost a significant number of seats to the opposition.Meanwhile, Nigel Farage celebrated Reform UK taking control of Havering, marking the party’s first parliamentary breakthrough in the capital. The Conservatives also took back Westminster City Council.

Khan says Labour’s achievements have been overshadowed

Khan believes Labour’s achievements in government have been overshadowed by “fundamental errors” and a failure to clearly communicate its progressive values.“Too many of the administration’s achievements are overshadowed by fundamental mistakes and a failure to boldly stand up for our progressive values,” he said.Khan acknowledged that midterm elections often present difficulties for the ruling party, but insisted that the scale of the losses cannot be dismissed simply as a routine frustration among voters.

Pressure mounts on Starmer

The fallout from the result has heightened pressure on Starmer within Labour. Labor deputy leader Lucy Powell admitted the party “has to do better” but insisted Starmer would remain leader.“The prime minister is taking responsibility,” Powell told the BBC. “He hears what people are saying.”Simon Opher became one of the first Labor MPs to publicly call for Starmer to step down, warning the party risked being “massacred” at the next general election if there was no change in leadership.Meanwhile, all 11 unions affiliated with the Labor Party have called for an emergency meeting with the party leadership, calling for a “fundamental change of direction” in economic policy and political strategy.The unions said in a joint statement that voters had sent a “clear message” that the government had failed to deliver the changes people wanted.