LONDON: Embattled British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has brought back former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, appointing him as his "special envoy on global finance and cooperation" to "work with our international allies to build a stronger Britain." This move comes after Labour lost control of 36 councils and 1,436 councillors in local polls, finishing second alongside Reform UK in the Scottish Parliament elections.
Conservative Criticism
Conservative MP Andrew Griffith mocked the appointment, tweeting a meme of Brown in a DeLorean outside No. 10 Downing Street with the words "Back to the Past." Griffith remarked, "As a 'Hail Mary pass' goes, bringing back Labour's biggest loser, who sold £40 billion of Britain's gold before leading Labour to a general election defeat, probably needs a bit of work."
Growing Discontent
So far, 30 Labour MPs, including Barry Gardiner and Nadia Whittome, have called for Starmer to resign. However, under party rules, 80 Labour MPs would need to back any challenger to his leadership. Voters expressed frustration over the high cost of living, spiralling taxes, squeezed living standards, and illegal immigration.
Reform UK and Greens Surge
By Saturday night, with only four councils left to declare, Reform UK had gained 1,449 councillors and control of 14 councils. The Greens also made gains, adding 397 councillors and four councils. Labour MP Dan Carden wrote on X, "Britain's working and lower middle-class communities" see the Labour party "as run by and for progressive elites... the lanyard class."
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council shifted from Labour-run to no overall control, with a diverse range of parties and 13 Independents winning seats. Most of these Independents are Muslims running on a Gaza ticket. The alliance of Independent candidates was organized by activists Akhmed Yakoob and Shakeel Afsar, the latter of whom was part of the mob that descended on the Smethwick Hindu temple in Birmingham in 2022.
