National frustration ‘to be taken seriously’ if Labour is to fight ‘polarised’ communities - Yorkshire MP

Labour MP Harpreet Uppal has urged her party to take national frustration seriously after Labour lost every one of its 23 seats in the Kirklees Council local elections. The results saw Reform UK, the Green Party, and Independent candidates take all contested seats, marking a significant blow to Labour’s local presence. Uppal expressed concern over Huddersfield’s increasingly polarized communities, stating that Labour must prove it is ‘on their side’ to bridge divides. She acknowledged the loss of long-serving councillors, including group leader Carole Pattison, while emphasizing the need for the party to ‘get the basics right’—such as addressing safety, cost-of-living pressures, and local infrastructure. Over 80 Labour MPs and affiliated trade unions have already demanded Prime Minister Keir Starmer stand down following Labour’s loss of majority control across 38 councils and nearly 1,500 councillors nationwide. Uppal, while not personally calling for Starmer’s resignation, warned that the party must deliver visible change to regain public trust. Despite the setback, Uppal highlighted ongoing projects in Huddersfield, including the National Health Innovation Campus at the University, which she described as a ‘game-changing’ development for health and care innovation. She stressed the town’s potential to create jobs and improve local lives, while urging continued collaboration with the government and local agencies to prioritize community needs. The MP reaffirmed her commitment to uniting Huddersfield’s diverse communities, acknowledging frustration but insisting Labour must address it through actionable policies. With three years left of the Labour government, she suggested opportunities remain to rebuild trust and deliver positive change for residents.