Labour faces election rout in three countries

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Weeks away from the local elections, Labour faces a rout in multiple countries. A seat-by-seat poll by JL Partners has found the party is on course to lose control in Wales for the first time since devolution, hand the SNP a majority in Scotland, and possibly endure its worst ever result in England. The major winner in Wales is forecast to be Plaid Cymru, which supports Welsh independence, with Reform becoming the effective opposition. Reform could take as many as 69 councils, or half of those up for grabs, in England. It’s an appropriate time then for Andy Burnham, Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, to come back into the picture. His supporters are reportedly working on a new strategy to get him into the Commons. If Labour loses in Greater Manchester, as it might, Burnham will be better able to make the case for change.