Sir Keir Starmer faces “very, very large” losses in next year’s local elections, a polling expert has predicted. The Telegraph has more.

Lord Hayward said the Prime Minister would suffer heavy losses in English council elections, defeat in the Welsh Senedd and a “battering” in the Scottish Parliament on May 7th.

Dismal results for Labour could reignite the question of whether Sir Keir should continue to lead the party, which exploded into the headlines in November following an anonymous briefing from his allies against potential rivals.

In England, results will depend on where elections go ahead, with several councils expected to defer polls to 2027 to focus on a reorganisation of local government.

But elections in London and other metropolitan areas in Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire are set to go ahead.

While these areas have recently been Labour-dominated, Lord Hayward said the party was heading for defeats to Reform UK, the Greens, the Liberal Democrats and, in east London, pro-Gaza independent candidates.

Even the Conservatives could pick up seats in London, he said, although the Tories’ overall result will depend on whether elections go ahead in counties where they won heavily in 2021.

Read more: Labour on Course For “Very large” Losses in Local Elections