Perhaps Jeremy Corbyn Should Begin Writing His Resignation Speech Following Massive Losses in UK Local Elections

In less than five weeks, the UK votes in a general election. But today much of the country voted in annual local elections and if today's results are any indication then Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn should begin writing his resignation speech forthwith.


The Labour Party lost 382 local councilors and control of seven town councils across the country. By contrast, the Tories gained 563 council seats and control of eleven town councils. The Tories control thrice as many town councils as Labour (28 to 9).


The only bright spot of the evening for Labour was Andy Burnham becoming the first elected of Greater Manchester. Burnham finished runner up to Corbyn in the 2015 Labour Party leadership race. Not wanting to be part of a sinking ship, Burnham opted for local politics after being an MP for more than 15 years. Burnham is going to have a lot more power as the mayor of a metropolitan county of nearly 3 million people than as an opposition backbench MP. When Corbyn travelled to Manchester to speak at a rally following the election, Burnham was not there citing other engagements. The way things are going for Corbyn, Burnham would probably rather be seen with Marine Le Pen.


On a personal note, I worked with Burnham when I was a parliamentary intern for Tessa Jowell in the winter of 1995. It wasn't a pleasant experience. But I digress.


Virtually every party not named the Tories had losses (with the exception of Plaid Cymru in Wales). The UKIP was virtually wiped out of existence losing 145 out of 146 council seats it had across the country. In a manner of speaking, the UKIP was a victim of its own success. After the Brexit vote, the UKIP lost its raison d'être.


Honestly, I had feared that British PM Theresa May's decision to call an early election would anger voters. It has done the opposite. The Tories made gains in both Scotland and to a lesser extent in Wales. The fact that Tory is no longer a dirty word in Scotland and Wales tells you how far Labour has fallen. Barring something really stupid or deadly, it looks like May's gamble will pay off and Labour will labor to search for a new leader.