Labour has suffered a harrowing defeat as Green Party leader Zach Polanski declares that two-party politics is “dead and buried”. Keir Starmer takes the loss on the chin and declares that he “won’t walk away”.

Labour lost Wales after holding a position of power for 27 years. Plaid Cymru became the largest party in Welsh Parliament with Reform UK as the runners up. Plaid’s leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, recounts this as a moment “100 years in the making” as his party overtook Labour. Plaid Cymru has always favoured Welsh Independence from the United Kingdom, campaigning on a politically centre-left platform of social democracy and civic nationalism. To have parliamentary power restored back to a national party is obviously a huge stepping stone towards independence and a step away from English rule.

In England, Reform is the biggest winner by a landslide. They have gained more than 1,400 councillors whereas the Tories lost around 500. Labour lost 1,400. Many called for Starmer to step down as the loss is excruciating for the party and shows voters feelings towards the PM, but many of his cabinet have rallied around him to show their continued support.

In Scotland, the SNP remains the largest party as Reform gained their first Scottish seat in their parliament. Party leader John Swinney told BBC Scotland that he was “absolutely delighted” with the Holyrood results and highlighted that Downing Street has a “lot of listening to do” after Labour was “hammered” in Scotland.

It has been a historic night for the Liberal Democrats as well, as party leader Ed Davey described his party to be the only non-populist party left standing as they gained 834 seats in England. So far, this party has gained more than 150 seats and have seen the third-highest gains on English councils, a triumph for their party alone.

Kemi Badenoch, Conservative party leader, recounts that “good strategy takes time” as the Tories lose hundreds of seats in England, no longer being one of the most popular parties. It seems that Zach Polanski was correct when stating that two-party politics has become a thing of the past.

So what are we to conclude about this? Will our country to break out of the two-party cycle that has dominated the English parliament for the last 40 years? It’s possible.

Our electoral system works on a first-past-the-post basis, essentially we vote locally for local candidates and the candidate with the most votes wins. In turn, the party with the most constituencies wins, therefore wins the election. Historically that system been good for the two main parties but may well now be their Achilles heel.

After these shocking results, Starmer’s leadership role is on the rocks, to say the least. Last week, many MPs rallied around our Prime Minister, but this week they are wavering. With Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigning after spending not even 10 minutes at Number 10, Labour MP’s want Starmer to set out a timetable before his ‘inevitable’ resignation. They are going to need time to get all their ducks in a row.

Andy Burnham is looking to stand in the Makerfield by-election and would only need 20% of the party backing him to kick-start the process. If he won the seat, which will be hotly contested by Reform UK, then that would be a clear sign to Keir Starmer, and the party, that time was up.