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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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