Labour MP for Stourbridge, Cat Eccles, demands urgent action from Prime Minister Keir Starmer following poor local election results, warning he must deliver change swiftly or step down.
Cat Eccles secured her parliamentary seat in 2024 amid Labour’s national landslide victory. However, Reform UK and the Green Party have gained significant ground since then. In the Dudley Council elections on May 7, Labour lost eight seats, reducing their representation to 15 out of 72 councillors. Conservatives hold 27 seats, while Reform UK claims 23.
Cat Eccles Calls for Major Policy Shift
Cat Eccles highlights the dedication of defeated Labour councillors, noting voters’ frustration with the government’s pace on domestic issues. She states: “Excellent Labour councillors, committed community champions who worked tirelessly for local people for many years, lost their seats because voters feel this Government neither understands the pressures they are under nor is acting with enough urgency to improve their lives.”
Eccles praises Starmer’s international leadership amid global challenges, essential for UK security, but insists it cannot replace domestic progress. She adds: “We need a serious change of direction, not cosmetic resets or better messaging, but policies that genuinely improve living standards and restore trust.”
She warns: “If the leadership cannot deliver that change quickly and convincingly, then Keir Starmer must put the country and the party first and make way for a new leader capable of reconnecting Labour with the people it was elected to serve.”
Reactions from Fellow Dudley-Area MPs
Other Labour MPs representing parts of Dudley borough also respond to the setback. Sonia Kumar, MP for Dudley, describes the night as tough and emphasizes listening to voters. She says: “Elections are always a moment for reflection… Unity remains Labour’s greatest strength, and by working together we can continue delivering the change our communities need. I recognise that people want to see delivery happen quicker and feel the benefits of change more directly in their everyday lives.”
Alex Ballinger, MP for Halesowen, calls the results disappointing, congratulates winners, and urges collaboration. He states: “It is important that we put politics aside and work together in the best interests of residents across Dudley.”
