Rishi Sunak says he's 'disappointed' by Andy Street's shock mayoral defeat to Labour after Sadiq Khan trounced Tory rival to remain London's mayor - but PM insists UK is 'turning a corner' and his plan 'is working'
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Rishi Sunak has admitted it was 'disappointing' that Andy Street lost, but insisted the country was 'turning a corner' and that his party's plan 'is working'.
Labour claimed a shock victory in the West Midlands mayoral elections, beating the popular Tory mayor - in a move a jubilant Kier Starmer hailed as a 'phenomenal result'.
Richard Parker beat Mr Street by 1,508 votes to become Mayor in an extremely close contest.
It means Mr Street will be denied his third term, in a major blow for Rishi Sunak after a disastrous local elections run.
And now Tory rebels are lining up to stick the knife into the Prime Minister as they warned that the 'gamechanging' defeat meant Mr Sunak could now face a fresh bid to oust him - although other MPs reiterated their view it was too late.
In a statement, the Prime Minister said: 'After a tough few years in the aftermath of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, we as a nation are turning a corner.
![Tory rebels are lining up to stick the knife into the Prime Minister as they warned that the 'gamechanging' defeat meant Mr Sunak could now face a fresh bid to oust him - although other MPs reiterated their view it was too late](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84464741-13383521-image-a-3_1714859584926.jpg)
Tory rebels are lining up to stick the knife into the Prime Minister as they warned that the 'gamechanging' defeat meant Mr Sunak could now face a fresh bid to oust him - although other MPs reiterated their view it was too late
![There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker (pictured) after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84462069-13383521-There_were_cheers_and_whoops_as_the_declaration_came_that_the_To-a-1_1714859561741.jpg)
There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker (pictured) after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts
![Labour's Richard Parker speaks as he is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84462529-13383521-Labour_s_Richard_Parker_speaks_as_he_is_elected_as_the_new_Mayor-a-2_1714859566863.jpg)
Labour's Richard Parker speaks as he is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84464143-13383521-image-a-5_1714859700641.jpg)
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'Our plan is working with inflation more than halved, tax cuts worth an average of £900 hitting people's pockets, state pensions protected with our triple lock, our Rwanda bill signed into law, allowing us to start detaining illegal migrants ready for the first flights, legal migration down and defence spending boosted.
'We Conservatives understand the priorities of the British people and are delivering on them.
'It's been disappointing of course to lose dedicated Conservative councillors and Andy Street in the West Midlands, with his track record of providing great public services and attracting significant investment to the area, but that has redoubled my resolve to continue to make progress on our plan.
'So we will continue working as hard as ever to take the fight to Labour and deliver a brighter future for our country. It is as clear that Labour just don't have a plan. They have no plan to defend our nation, no plan to stop the boats and no plan to grow the economy. They are a soft touch and would take us back to square one.
'So by sticking to the plan we will secure our borders, grow the economy and create opportunities so everyone in this great country can thrive and prosper.'
The Labour victory comes after Sadiq Khan comfortably sailed to victory against Conservative candidate Susan Hall - securing a historic third term as London Mayor.
He celebrated his 'increased margin of victory' on the previous election after he received 1,088,225 votes, a majority of nearly 276,000 over Ms Hall, who secured 812,397 votes.
And he slammed the 'non-stop negativity' of the campaigning against him after a divisive race. He used his victory speech to apologise to his family for the 'threats' they had received and 'protests by our home'.
![It means Mr Street (pictured) will be denied his third term, in a major blow for Rishi Sunak after a disasterous local elections](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84462525-13383521-It_means_Mr_Street_pictured_will_be_denied_his_third_term_in_a_m-a-4_1714859684284.jpg)
It means Mr Street (pictured) will be denied his third term, in a major blow for Rishi Sunak after a disasterous local elections
![Defeated Conservative Andy Street (left) listens to Labour's Richard Parker speaking as he is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84462523-13383521-Defeated_Conservative_Andy_Street_left_listens_to_Labour_s_Richa-a-7_1714859708084.jpg)
Defeated Conservative Andy Street (left) listens to Labour's Richard Parker speaking as he is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands
Speaking after his loss, former John Lewis boss Mr Street refused to blame the Conservatives for his defeat.
He said: 'Most importantly my thanks of course go to everybody who voted for me on Thursday and for the trust that they showed in me.
'That's perhaps the most important word in politics of all.'
He continued: 'It has been my honour to lead you for the last seven years. I hope I have done it with dignity and integrity.'
Talking to Sky News, he added that he was 'incredibly proud' he had lost by such a thin margin, despite being 'personally devastated' by the result.
He said: 'Given that this has always been a place where some people said you should never have won in the first place, I'm actually very, very proud of what we've done.
'The thing everyone should take from Birmingham in the West Midlands tonight is this brand of moderate, inclusive, tolerant conservatism that gets on and delivered has come within an ace of beating the Labour Party in, what they considered to be their backyard.'
Further questioned whether he thought it was the Conservative campaign that had been his downfall, he added: 'It was my campaign totally. I am not going to try to push responsibility anywhere else ... they'll be no sloping shoulders from me.'
![Richard Parker puffs as he walks away from the stage after being elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84463147-13383521-Richard_Parker_puffs_as_he_walks_away_from_the_stage_after_being-a-8_1714859739976.jpg)
Richard Parker puffs as he walks away from the stage after being elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands
![There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker (pictured) after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84462069-13383521-There_were_cheers_and_whoops_as_the_declaration_came_that_the_To-a-9_1714859742003.jpg)
There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker (pictured) after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts
A tearful Richard Parker started his victory speech by leading applause to Andy Street, as said he deserved 'great credit' for his work.
He said: 'Thank you to Andy - you have led this region through a number of great challenges and you deserve great credit for that.
'Whilst our politics are different we both have the best interests of the West Midlands at heart. '
He continued: 'This is the most important thing that I will ever do
'They recognised that a Labour mayor can make a positive difference in this region. You have put your trust in me and I will repay that trust.
'We will give this region the fresh start it richly deserves. I will stand up for all our councils in the face of unprecedented Tory cuts.
'It shows that people are calling for Labour and calling for change.'
He added that people 'up and down the country' are calling for a general election.
![Andy Street dramatically lost the West Midlands mayor battle tonight in a body blow for Rishi Sunak](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84462071-13383521-Andy_Street_dramatically_lost_the_West_Midlands_mayor_battle_ton-a-10_1714859749787.jpg)
Andy Street dramatically lost the West Midlands mayor battle tonight in a body blow for Rishi Sunak
![Mr Parker gives a big thumbs up as he walks through the crowd after his victory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84463141-13383521-Mr_Parker_gives_a_big_thumbs_up_as_he_walks_through_the_crowd_af-a-11_1714859819074.jpg)
Mr Parker gives a big thumbs up as he walks through the crowd after his victory
![Labour Party supporters celebrate as Richard Parker is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84463145-13383521-Labour_Party_supporters_celebrate_as_Richard_Parker_is_elected_a-a-12_1714859822994.jpg)
Labour Party supporters celebrate as Richard Parker is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands
He said: 'Up and down the country people are looking for a fresh start; I hope the Prime Minister is watching as well, because if you haven't heard Rishi Sunak, our people are calling for a general election.
'I will get this region's future back, and a Labour mayor working with a Labour government will help get Britain's future back.'
In a written statement following the victory, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'This phenomenal result was beyond our expectations. People across the country have had enough of Conservative chaos and decline and voted for change with Labour.
'Our fantastic new mayor Richard Parker stands ready to deliver a fresh start for the West Midlands.
'My changed Labour Party is back in the service of working people, and stands ready to govern. Labour will turn the page after 14 years of Tory decline and usher in a decade of national renewal. That change starts today.'
Speaking in Birmingham, he accused Rishi Sunak of having used Mr Street as a 'crutch for [his] weak leadership' - as he called for the Prime Minister to call an election.
Labour won 37.8 per cent of the vote in the West Midlands mayoral election, with Andy Street following closely behind with 37.5 per cent.
![Defeated Conservative Andy Street after Labour's Richard Parker is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84463143-13383521-Defeated_Conservative_Andy_Street_after_Labour_s_Richard_Parker_-a-13_1714859831477.jpg)
Defeated Conservative Andy Street after Labour's Richard Parker is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands
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Independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob made 11.7 per cent of the vote, while Reform UK came in fourth with 5.8 per cent and the Green party got 5.2 per cent. The Lib Dem candidate got two per cent of the share.
In a disasterous week for the Tories across the country, the party saw the Lib Dems winning more councillors at a round of local elections for the first time since 1996.
Mr Street further apologised to his Conservative team after being defeated by Labour.
Saying thank you to his team across the region, he added: 'It has been my honour to lead you for the last seven years.
'I'm sorry, we couldn't make it that triple or hat-trick, but mark my words, you will be back for that.'
Mr Street thanked his fellow candidates, including Mr Parker for 'how he's conducted himself in the campaign' and wished him 'all strength and wisdom as he takes on this role'.
Mr Sunak had been desperate for Mr Street to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in the winner's circle, demonstrating that the party can still win big contests.
Lord Houchen's success had seemingly helped Mr Sunak quell a revolt. However, the latest defeat immediately inflamed anger, critics pointing to the relentlessly grim results for the Conservatives. The party is likely to end up losing nearly 500 councillors in one of the worst showings for 40 years.
![Conservative Andy Street (second left) shakes hands with Labour's Richard Parker (centre) as he is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84463139-13383521-Conservative_Andy_Street_second_left_shakes_hands_with_Labour_s_-a-14_1714859844355.jpg)
Conservative Andy Street (second left) shakes hands with Labour's Richard Parker (centre) as he is elected as the new Mayor of West Midlands
![On a visit to Mansfield this morning, Keir Starmer (pictured with new East Midlands mayor Claire Ward) insisted he is 'confident' that Mr Khan can keep control of City Hall](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/04/22/84450817-13383521-On_a_visit_to_Mansfield_this_morning_Keir_Starmer_pictured_with_-a-15_1714859858619.jpg)
On a visit to Mansfield this morning, Keir Starmer (pictured with new East Midlands mayor Claire Ward) insisted he is 'confident' that Mr Khan can keep control of City Hall
One Tory MP told MailOnline that Downing Street had quelled dissent up to now by 'bullsh*****' that 'all's going to be fine' and suggesting Susan Hall was going to win in London.
'Despite all the highly positive private spin from No10 to Tory MPs since Thursday, we've lost well over 400 council seats, Andy Street has lost, Susan Hall has been defeated in London,' they said.
'Ben Houchen won without having the balls to wear a blue rosette, even at his own victory count... Rishi's Sunak's utterly hapless Leadership is now definitely in play.'
The MP added that they had not sent a letter of no confidence before, but would be now - predicting that the threshold of 52 for a vote would be hit.
Ex-Cabinet minister Simon Clarke, a public critic of Mr Sunak, reportedly posted on a Tory WhatsApp group after the news broke: 'These results are awful, and should be a massive wake up call.'
A former minister told MailOnline that victory for Mr Street would have 'eased the pressure' on the PM.
'For those who say it would be madness to have another leader now just look at the statistics. They say that is precisely what the majority of Tory voters want,' they said.
'I think there will be more reflection now. There will be a lot of phone calls being made this Bank Holiday weekend, not least by supporters of rival candidates, although they will be discreet.'
The MP added that there was 'an element of MPs simply being resigned to losing'.
But another veteran Tory backbencher said Mr Street's loss 'is not going to shift anything'.
'People know Rishi has improved things, so let's stick with him and not let Kier take credit for Tories improving things over next six months,' they added.
The MP said the key question for the rebels was who would be better than Mr Sunak: 'No one and they know it.'