The ruling Labour Party’s dire results in local and regional elections in the UK late last week had damaged Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authority and could lead to policy shifts, Chinese experts said.

While some in Starmer’s party might push for changes in policy towards China, a U-turn on the government’s pro-engagement strategy was unlikely, the observers said, arguing that Britain’s economic position would make this move too costly.

More than 5,000 seats across 136 English councils and six directly elected mayors were up for election on Thursday. Labour lost 1,193 seats and control of 36 councils across the United Kingdom as support for populist parties surged, arguably the worst local election result for any sitting prime minister. The party also lost two out of the three mayor positions it held before the elections.

Voters in Wales and Scotland went to the polls to choose representatives in their devolved legislatures. While Labour shed seats in both, the results in Wales were particularly damaging as the party lost power for the first time since devolution in 1999.

These results were widely expected, as Labour has steadily fallen in both national and regional polls since the 2024 general election.

Public dissatisfaction with Starmer specifically has surged, with a poll last month showing 70 per cent of adults believe he is doing a poor job. His popularity has been dragged down by economic stagnation, the rising cost of living and the scandal surrounding his decision to appoint an associate of notorious American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as ambassador to the United States.