Polling Expert Says Labour Heading For 'Total Bloodbath' In May's Elections

Labour is heading for “a total bloodbath” in the elections on May 7, according to a polling expert.

Voters will go to the polls in England, Scotland and Wales for the biggest test of public opinion since Keir Starmer won a landslide general election victory less than two years ago.

Since then, however, Labour and the prime minister’s popularity has plummeted following a series of gaffes, ministerial resignations, controversies and scandals.

Ben Walker, co-founder of polling analysts Britain Elects and a Labour councillor, said May 7 is shaping up to be disastrous for his party as well as the Conservatives.

In a post on X, he said: “Putting together the English local election forecast. Scotland and Wales done.

“I have to say, and not to give a sneak peak, but to affirm what’s been written elsewhere: this May is going to be absolutely terrible for the Tories. But a total bloodbath for Labour.”

Labour is facing defeat once again to the SNP in the Scottish Parliament elections, and could even come third behind Reform UK.

The party is also set to lose power in the Welsh Senedd for the first time since it was set up in 1999, with Plaid Cymru on course to form the next government.

Around 5,000 council seats are up for election on the same day, with analysis by the Financial Times last month suggesting Labour could lose nearly 2,000 as Reform and the Greens make major gains.

A by-election held on Thursday for a seat on Rossendale Borough Council provided a foretaste of what Labour can expect on May 7.

The party’s vote share plunged by nearly 28% as they lost the seat to the Greens.

Meanwhile, Reform polled 34.5% from a standing start, 15 points more than Labour.