Sir Keir Starmer has expressed a conciliatory attitude towards voters who have distanced themselves from the Labour party due to its stance on Gaza. Despite a generally positive performance in local elections, Labour experienced losses to independents and George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain in certain council seats. The tight race for the West Midlands mayoralty saw Labour secure victory by a narrow margin over the Tory incumbent. This victory might have been more decisive if former Labour supporters had not thrown their weight behind independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob, who campaigned on a pro-Gaza platform.
In response to the election results, Sir Keir Starmer addressed voters in Birmingham, acknowledging their concerns and pledging to regain their trust and respect. He emphasized the diverse and proud nature of the West Midlands community, expressing his commitment to addressing the issues that led voters to turn away from Labour. Despite these efforts, Labour faced setbacks in various regions, failing to regain control of Oxford following notable defections regarding the party’s messaging on the Middle East crisis.
Furthermore, Labour lost control of Oldham Council in Greater Manchester to independents and saw council seats slip away to independents in Blackburn with Darwen and Bradford. The Workers Party of Britain also made gains in Rochdale at Labour’s expense. In Manchester, Labour’s deputy council leader lost his seat to a candidate from George Galloway’s Workers Party, with Galloway attributing the victory to support for the Palestinian cause. These election outcomes underscore the challenges faced by Labour in reconnecting with voters who have concerns related to the situation in Gaza.