In this article

Early results from local council elections pointed to big losses for the U.K.’s ruling Labour Party on Friday, raising questions about Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister.

Bond vigilantes have closely watched his fate in recent weeks, and the results are expected to further fuel speculation the prime minister could be deposed by his party.

Vote counts pointed to hundreds of Labour councillors losing their seats and the leadership of many local councils changing hands.

Speaking to reporters as the results continued to emerge on Friday, Starmer labeled the outcome “really tough.”