Dudley's Labour leader is standing firmly behind Sir Keir Starmer, even as the party braces for a difficult day in local elections. Cllr Adam Aston, who leads a group of 23 elected Labour members on the 72-seat Dudley Council, will be defending eight seats the party currently holds and two more that were won last time but whose councillors defected to The Black Country Party.
With Reform UK surging in opinion polls and Labour expected to suffer significant losses on May 7, Cllr Aston is well aware of the uphill battle. He said: "I'm under no illusions these local elections are going to be very difficult for a number of reasons – these are mid-terms to some degree and people tend to vote against the government at local elections."
Multiple Challenges from All Sides
Labour faces competition not only from Reform UK on the right but also from The Black Country Party on the left, while the Liberal Democrats occupy the centre ground. The Green Party, though currently without any Dudley councillors, adds another challenge from the left.
Cllr Aston noted the shifting political landscape: "Politics has changed over the last couple of years; we find ourselves in a position we are not used to in Dudley. Dudley has traditionally been a two-party system with the odd smaller party, but now we have five political parties on the council."
Starmer's Record Defended
The Prime Minister's government has faced criticism over issues such as winter fuel allowance and disability benefit changes, as well as repeated calls for his resignation over the Peter Mandelson affair. However, Cllr Aston argues that Starmer inherited an economy and public services "in tatters" from the previous Conservative government and has achieved notable successes.
"I think there has been some great stuff the government has done over the last two years," Cllr Aston said. "Of course there have been a couple of missteps along the way, they have been acknowledged and as members of the Labour Party we have made our views known to our MPs."
He highlighted the government's record on workers' rights, describing it as "the biggest improvement in workers' rights in the history of workers' rights yet we don't shout about it enough." Cllr Aston added: "I don't think Starmer verbalises his politics enough; he is, on occasions, seen as technocratic. That is just the way he is but right now I can't think of any other politician or leader of a political party I would want in Number 10. In the current global climate he is an incredibly safe pair of hands."
Election Details
A full list of candidates standing in the 2026 Dudley Council elections is available on the council's website.
