David Skaith reacts to Keir Starmer and Labour lastest

The York and North Yorkshire Mayor said the current state of his party after months of errors meant what it had delivered in Government was not landing with voters.

He said he would want someone who could unite the party if the prime minister goes but no one was challenging him currently so he should continue serving his mandate.

It comes as Sir Keir and the Labour Party continue to reel from the loss of more than 1,460 council seats across England along with defeats in Scotland and Wales.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK emerged as the big winners in England, gaining more than 1,450 council seats.

The results of local elections and those in Scotland and Wales have piled pressure on the prime minister who is now fighting to stay on as Labour leader.

High-profile Labour figures including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have made moves to position themselves to run a potential leadership contest.

But a leadership election has not been officially triggered as of Friday, May 15.

York and North Yorkshire Mayor Mr Skaith appeared on BBC News where he described the situation in the party as a real mess.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) afterwards that he stood by his assessment and feared the consequences for Labour and the country going forward.

David Skaith has weighed in on Labour infighting (Image: Gavin Priestley)

The mayor added there would have to be a lot of water under the bridge to get to a fully-fledged leadership contest, including Mr Burnham standing in and winning a by-election.

Mr Skaith said: “I think there’s a lot of frustration on the doorstep, from myself and other mayors and MPs up and down the country at the state of the party.

“We’ve delivered a lot and there’s been good stuff about economic growth and NHS waiting times but it’s not landing because there’s been so many errors over the last 18 months.

“We’ve got to crack on and deliver what people put Labour into office for, especially after what we saw with the Conservatives with all the chopping and changing of leaders.

“The entire party needs to stop looking inward, if we’re unsuccessful a knee-jerk reaction to the far-right and Reform could be coming.

“A spent a lot of time in West Yorkshire before the local elections talking to voters, there’s a fear of a Reform government and there’s a lack of connection to Labour.

“No one else has put themselves forward so far, the entire Government has a five-year mandate and Keir Starmer’s the prime minister so they need to get on with the job.”