A statement by Momentum on the local council election results

Across England, the public have spoken loud and clear: they are sick and tired of public services on their knees, of an NHS in crisis, of a Government abandoning them to a cost-of-living crisis. Sick and tired of the Tories.

For us in Labour, it is a good day. We extend our congratulations not just to the hundreds of Labour councillors elected for the first time, including many brilliant socialists, but to the members and activists who made it all possible. Members are the lifeblood of our party.

We are particularly pleased by strong performances by Labour councils in Preston and Worthing, where our co-chair Hilary Schan was elected, and by Labour’s impressive victory in gaining Broxtowe. Voters have rewarded Labour candidates in these areas for their community wealth building agenda based on democratic ownership and public investment, paired with a community organising approach.

These councils offer a powerful lesson. Labour can deliver for the many with transformative policies and build lasting majorities as a result. To win the next General Election, we cannot rely on Tory implosion alone. Instead, we need to mobilise our core vote and inspire millions more with a propositional programme. People are hungry for change.

That means tackling the crises facing us head on with a bold offer based on public ownership of our rail, mail, energy and water, investment in our public services and mass council house building, paid for with higher taxes on the wealthy. That’s the path to building a wide, winning electoral coalition and fixing the Tories’ broken Britain.