Keir Starmer was savaged by one of his own elected mayors today after Labour was run to the wire by Reform in several previously safe areas.
Ros Jones said the Prime Minister had to start listening to those calling for a U-turn over issues like cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits, and national insurance contribution rises for firms.
The Doncaster mayor hit out after remaining her Yorkshire mayoralty by just 698 over Reform UK candidate Alexander Jones.
Reform also came a close second in mayoral races in North Tyneside and West of England, two areas where opinion polls suggested Labour was either safe or facing competition from the Greens.
Speaking to the BBC after her win Ms Jones said: ‘I think the result here tonight will demonstrate they (ministers) need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street and actually deliver for the people, with the people.’
Asked what they should be listening to concerns about, she cited the winter fuel payment, which was made means-tested by Rachel Reeves last year.
Ms Jones added: ‘They need to look again because putting up the cost of national insurance increases hitting some of our smaller businesses and of course the PIP (disability benefit payment) which we know many people are worried about now.’
Ms Jones has been the mayor of Doncaster since 2013 and has now been re-elected for a fourth term in office.
Ms Jones has been the mayor of Doncaster since 2013 and has now been re-elected for a fourth term in office.
While she won comfortably at the previous election in 2021 with the Tories finishing second, this result was much closer, with Conservative Nick Fletcher third.
While it is not possible to make a direct comparison with 2021, because a different voting system was used this time, the Reform and Conservative candidates took more than 57 per cent of the votes.
A Conservative Party spokesman claimed ‘serious questions’ were being asked about Sir Keir’s leadership after her criticism.
The spokesman said: ‘Ros Jones has barely been re-elected as Labour mayor of Doncaster – and her first move? Publicly tearing into Keir Starmer’s failing government.
‘When even Labour’s own elected mayors are slamming Starmer’s cruel policies – like snatching winter fuel payments from vulnerable pensioners and hammering families with a £3,500 jobs tax – you know the country is heading in the wrong direction.
‘Starmer promised change, but Britain isn’t buying it. His own party isn’t either. Serious questions are now being asked about Starmer’s leadership.’
Labour won the North Tyneside mayoral contest in the first full result of the night, but Karen Clark had a majority of just 444 over Reform UK’s John Falkenstein.
In the West of England, Helen Godwin had 51,197 votes for Labour to win the West of England mayoral contest, ahead of Reform UK’s Arron Banks (45,252) and Green candidate Mary Page (41,094), with Conservative Steve Smith fourth with 34,092 and Liberal Democrat Oli Henman fifth with 28,711.
Norma Redfearn had been the Labour mayor in North Tyneside since 2013, but did not stand this time in one of the party’s north-east heartlands.
The result cannot be compared directly with 2021 as a different voting system was used this time – first past the post, the same as for parliamentary elections, when previously voters could express a first and second preference.
But Labour won with 33,119 votes in 2021, with Conservatives on 19,366, Liberal Democrats 3,549 and Ukip on 1,753.
In the West of England, Helen Godwin had 51,197 votes for Labour to win the West of England mayoral contest, ahead of Reform UK’s Arron Banks (45,252) and Green candidate Mary Page (41,094), with Conservative Steve Smith fourth with 34,092 and Liberal Democrat Oli Henman fifth with 28,711.
Mr Banks said there was a ‘tidal wave’ of support for Reform UK.
Speaking in Bristol after his defeat to Labour’s Helen Godwin for the West of England Combined Authority mayoralty, Mr Banks told supporters: ‘This was our least likely place to win and we came up 6,000 votes short.
‘There is a tidal wave going on in the UK at the moment.
‘We have seen Reform victory after Reform victory.
‘It looks like Bristol liked Banksy after all. And we beat the Greens.’
