Keir Starmer braces for Labour wipeout as Angela Rayner set to ‘take advantage’ of Reform surge

Sir Keir Starmer has been left bracing for a Labour wipeout in the upcoming 2026 Local Elections.

Polling guru Lord Hayward, who is also a Tory peer, is predicting a torrid night for the Prime Minister at the ballot box.

The forecast suggests Labour could lose three-in-four seats, with net losses standing at 1,850.

Such a result would prove far more catastrophic than Labour’s haul in the 2025 Local Elections, when Sir Keir’s candidate was defeated in just under two-in-three wards.

Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is now expected to “take advantage” of Sir Keir’s electoral woes.

“If the HMRC investigation comes back soon, she should be ready to go as soon as possible after the locals,” an ally of Ms Rayner told The Times.

However, Lord Hayward is also forecasting a tough night for the Tories.

Kemi Badenoch is expected to suffer defeat in around 600 wards for a second consecutive year.

The main beneficiaries will be Reform UK and the Green Party, Lord Hayward’s prediction has revealed.

Mr Farage looks poised to hoover up 1,550 seats, with a turquoise tsunami sweeping over councils outside of London.

Meanwhile, Zack Polanski’s Green Party is expected to sweep up a new set of predominantly urban seats with net gains of 500.

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Keir Starmer faces calls to ban pro-Palestinian marches

Sir Keir Starmer and his Cabinet are facing calls to ban pro-Palestinian marches in their crackdown on antisemitism across Britain after the Golders Green attack.

Jonathan Hall, the ex-Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, demanded a "moratorium" on such protests, arguing that said such events "incubated" antisemitism.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has joined the rallying cry, saying they were "used as a cover for violence and intimidation against Jews".

Meanwhile, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said "hate marches" combined with "purposeful anti-Israel demonisation had led to a tone of antisemitism".

Extra £25million funnelled into protecting Jewish communities after Golders Green attack

An extra £25million will be funnelled into protecting Jewish communities after the Golders Green stabbing,

Whitehall confirmed legislation will be fast-tracked to target individuals acting on behalf of state-sponsored groups.

Lord Hayward's May 7 prediction in full

Reform - gain 1,550

Greens - gain 500

Liberal Democrats - gain 150

Labour - lose 1,850

Conservatives - lose 600

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