Labour’s disastrous night puts focus on Keir Starmer’s future as leader

Leadership in peril as party loses seats in heartlands and control of councils in Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth

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Hartlepool once nearly triggered Keir Starmer’s resignation – results overnight mean it may yet do so in the coming days.

Five years ago, Labour crashed to a humiliating defeat in a byelection for the city’s Westminster seat, prompting Starmer to consider resigning as opposition leader.