West Midlands mayoral election: Labour claim shock victory over Andy Street

Andy Street (Image: Getty)

Labour has claimed victory in the West Midlands mayoral race in a huge blow to Rishi Sunak.

Conservative incumbent Andy Street was vying for a third term against Labour rival Richard Parker in the key ballot.

It is a crushing result for the Prime Minister in what was seen as a crucial test after Tory Ben Houchen stayed on as Tees Valley Mayor.

The hammer blow could be fresh fodder to Conservative rebels set on ousting Mr Sunak before the general election.

It has been a difficult set of local elections for the PM after voters took to the polls on Thursday.

With 106 out of 107 of the local councils declared on Saturday, the Conservatives had suffered a net loss of 396 councillors and the loss of 10 councils.

Labour won control of eight councils with a net gain of 231 seats, while the Liberal Democrats gained 97 seats and the Greens 64.

But Sir Keir Starmer's party lost some council seats to independents and George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain, apparently over its position on Gaza.

Mr Sunak last night insisted “I’m up for the fight” vowed to battle to protect "our values and our country’s future”.

He told the Daily Express: “At the beginning of this year, we turned a corner and our plan is demonstrably working.

“Whether its inflation coming down, tax cuts coming in which are on average putting £900 in people’s pockets, our Rwanda bill coming into law and the first failed asylum seeker going there with many others detained just this week, legal migration falling steeply, or significant welfare reforms to help people into work – it is this Conservative government that has a plan and is delivering for the British people and their priorities.

“And make no mistake, we are going to keep going because there’s more work to be done. And what is as clear as day is that Labour just don’t have a plan. Of course, losing Conservative colleagues is always disappointing.

“But just like Ben Houchen in Teesside, we are going to continue taking the right, bold decisions for the country underpinned by our Conservative values that Britain must control its own destiny, protect our borders, ensure our security and build a thriving, lower tax economy.

“That will be the choice at the next election – stick with the Conservative plan or go back to square one with Labour. And trust me, I’m up for the fight because we are fighting for our values and our country’s future.”