British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday that he will not resign despite heavy losses for the governing Labour Party in local and regional elections that saw major gains for the hard-right Reform UK.

The elections, widely viewed as an early referendum on Starmer’s leadership, reflected growing voter frustration less than two years after Labour returned to power following more than a decade of Conservative rule.

Speaking after early results showed Labour losing ground across parts of England, Starmer acknowledged the outcome was “very tough” but said he remained committed to leading the country.

“The voters have sent a message about the pace of change and how they want their lives improved,” Starmer said. “I was elected to meet those challenges, and I’m not going to walk away from them and plunge the country into chaos.”

The results highlighted mounting public impatience over economic conditions and Labour’s struggle to deliver rapid improvements after 14 years of Conservative-led government.

Reform UK, led by nationalist politician Nigel Farage, made significant gains in working-class regions that had traditionally supported Labour, including northern English communities such as Hartlepool. The party also picked up support in former Conservative strongholds, including areas on the eastern outskirts of London.

The setbacks are likely to intensify pressure within Labour, where some lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned about the government’s declining popularity and inability to deliver faster economic growth.