Latest editorial
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks to the media as he celebrates with newly elected Mayor of West Midlands Richard Parker (not pictured) at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, May 4, 2024
LABOUR notched up a string of successes in mayoral elections whose results came in over the weekend.
But it had to pledge to work to rebuild trust in Muslim communities following a sharp decline in its vote in areas with high Muslim populations — with strong votes for independents who championed the Palestinian cause as Israel’s brutal war on Gaza continues.
Labour scraped a win in the West Midlands, ousting Tory incumbent Andy Street by just 1,508 votes of over 600,000 cast — while a pro-Palestine independent, Akhmed Yakoob, came third with over 69,000.
With Reform UK surging and Labour determined not to offer anything different from the status quo, a clear opportunity opens for the left, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE
DIANE ABBOTT looks at the whys and hows of Labour’s spectacular own goal
