Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says he is ready to run the Welsh government after a stunning Senedd election victory left his party the largest group in Wales' parliament.

The historic vote saw Reform UK come second, pushing Labour into third and ending a century-long run of election success in Wales.

Plaid fell short of a majority in the 96-member Senedd, but with 43 seats has a better chance than anyone of forming a government with the help of at least some opposition politicians.

The dramatic day of results on Friday saw the current first minister, Eluned Morgan, lose her seat and resign as Welsh Labour leader.

Labour has won every general election since 1922 in Wales and, until this week, every Cardiff Bay election since the Senedd's predecessor the National Assembly was established in 1999.

It had been in charge of the Welsh government for 27 years.

Starmer plans reboot - but how long will MPs give him?published at 06:09 BST

06:09 BST

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, PA Media

This was a set of elections dizzying for their victors – and for the losers.

It raised the sharpest of questions for the Westminster government, the Labour Party, and the prime minister.

How did they - and how did he - become so unpopular, so quickly? And what on Earth can they do about it?

It is three months to the day since Labour’s leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, publicly called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, prompting hasty public demonstrations of loyalty and support from the cabinet.

And last night it happened again, with ministers backing him on social media in the aftermath of crushing defeats in Wales, in Scotland and around England. And after more than 20 Labour MPs publicly questioned – to a greater or lesser extent - the merit in Sir Keir hanging around much longer in office.

Another attempt at rejuvenating and relaunching his ailing premiership beckons on Monday with a speech, and on Wednesday a reboot with regalia - the State Opening of Parliament and the prime minister’s legislative plans for the year or so ahead.

The question is whether his MPs will give him that long.

Image source, PA med

While there have been some within Labour's ranks who have turned on Sir Keir, Cabinet ministers are toeing the party line, with a number of them expressing support late last night.

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy, posted on X: “These are devastating election results for Labour and I’m deeply sorry for all of those colleagues who have lost their seats. Voters are making clear their anger at a broken economic and political status quo. As Keir has said, we must go further in delivering the mandate for change that Labour won in 2024 – and show how we will answer the call for change in our country.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also wrote on the social media platform: “A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the prime minister will “have my support” in setting out how the government will move forward on Monday. “I’ll continue putting my shoulder to the wheel as the Health and Social Care Secretary, who’s getting the NHS back on its feet and making sure it’s fit for the future,” he said.

Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent

Image source, PA med

Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure this morning from Labour MPs after more than 20 called for him to set out a timetable to resign in the wake of election losses across the UK.

The PM said he took responsibility for the defeats - and admitted the public didn't believe the government was delivering enough - but vowed to build a stronger and fairer country.

Reform UK was the big winner in England, sweeping up more than 1,400 councillors. The Green Party had a strong showing too, gaining 370 councillors - as well as two mayoralties in London.

The Liberal Democrats made more modest improvements - but still achieved a record eighth year in a row of councillor gains.

But it was much trickier for what have been traditionally the two biggest parties. The Tories lost more than 550 seats, Labour around 1,400.

Writing in the Guardian, the prime minister said he'd made mistakes, but added "that doesn’t mean tacking right or left".

"It means bringing together a broad political movement, being assertive about our values, bold in our vision and addressing people’s demands. Unifying rather than dividing."

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, PA/Getty Images

Labour suffers historic loss in Wales: The party's 27 years in power have come to an end, with First Minister Eluned Morgan also losing her seat. Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Morgan as a "tireless champion for Wales".

The new 96-seat Senedd is a sea of green and lightning blue: But Plaid Cymru's 43 seats leave it six short of a majority. Reform follows close behind with 34.

In Scotland, the SNP holds on: The BBC forecasts the SNP will secure 58 MSP seats, remaining the biggest party but still short of the 65 needed for a majority.

England's councils are set to welcome more than 1,400 Reform councillors: After Nigel Farage's party took seats in a tough election for Labour and the Conservatives, who lost over 1,300 and 500 seats respectively. The Liberal Democrats and Greens also made gains.

The Green Party triumphed for the first time in mayoral contests: Zoë Garbett's victory in Hackney was swiftly followed by another win in Lewisham. Labour took Newham, with no change elsewhere.

Keir Starmer says he's "not going to walk away": There are now at least a dozen Labour MPs saying publicly that he should resign or attach a sell-by date to his premiership.

There's also plenty across BBC News to recap a whirlwind day in UK politics:

• Our political editor says many Labour MPs are blaming their boss Starmer for today's election blow
• The BBC's election expert John Curtis says these results show politics in the UK has fragmented
• And here are five election moments you might have missed as the counts came in

Many Labour MPs are blaming the boss for disastrous electionspublished at 22:31 BST 8 May

22:31 BST 8 May

Chris Mason and Iain Watson
Political editor and political correspondent

Surveying the scale of Labour's disastrous election performance, there are now at least a dozen Labour MPs saying publicly that Starmer should resign or attach a sell-by date to his premiership.

Most cabinet ministers have been circling the wagons, taking to the TV studios to reinforce his message that Starmer will not be walking away from No 10 and tweeting support for him.

For example, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: "Reversing these results requires a collective effort, not just blaming the boss."

But while few MPs are entirely "blaming the boss", a significant number think he is part of the problem.

"There was one issue on the door and it was Keir. If he leads us into a future election we are dead," one Labour MP told the BBC.

Given the level of dismay and frustration, you might assume there would be even more calls for the PM's removal.

But Labour politics is rarely that straightforward.

• Take an even closer look at what this election might mean for Labour - and the prime minister's future

"Even early this morning, Sir Keir Starmer chose to get out there and tell his party and all of us that he was not going to go anywhere.

"He didn't even wait to see how bad it was before putting his defence out there, as if he was anticipating some attacks," Laura Kuenssberg says.

Watch her analysis below.

Ed Thomas
UK editor, reporting from Barnsley

Barnsley has had a Labour council for 50 years - but that's changed, with the stronghold flipping to Reform UK.

Lee, who says he voted Reform, has voted Labour for most of his life.

He tells the BBC that he's worked since he was 16 and his wife was employed as a carer. "As a tax payer we are paying too much out for illegal immigrants; for housing, for benefits," he says. “I just want the country to be run fairly.”

At Beth’s Corner Kitchen, a busy sandwich shop, manager Beth says for many of her customers, it’s time for change.

“I just think there have been quite a lot of issues,” she says, listing cost of living, school provisions, working families not eligible for free school meals. “People are not getting what they need.”

Beth’s Mum, Adele, is helping out with deliveries. She has changed her vote from Labour to Reform because she’s craving change. When asked, she says it is for one reason: "Starmer. He’s done nothing for the country at all."

And Jackie, who spoke to the BBC while doing her weekly shopping, told us she is worried.

“I’ve been Labour all my life. I’m sad,” she said. “I don’t think they will know how to run the county, Reform.”

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

The unions that financially back Labour are calling for an "urgent meeting" with the prime minister to discuss a change in direction.

Those unions with left-wing leadership have been critical of Keir Starmer.

But in a joint statement which includes usually more supportive unions, they are calling for a change of direction on "economic policy and political strategy".

And they suggest the "disastrous election results" show a "stark disconnect between the Labour government and working people".

I was told by a Labour veteran, regarded as on the right of the party, that the pressure a united union front could put on the prime minister "shouldn’t be under-priced".

Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite union, says: "It is change or die, now or never."

And Andrea Egan, the relatively new leader of Unison, the country’s biggest union, says "there will clearly be a change of Labour leader sooner or later".

But she warns "Labour will face political oblivion because it’s simply not delivering".

If the Labour leadership grants a meeting, it might need a stiffer drink than beer with the sandwiches.

Image source, Jeff Overs/BBC

We're still waiting for results from 11 councils in England.

Here's where we're expecting results:

• Bradford
• Calderdale
• Croydon
• Lambeth
• Haringey
• Kirklees
• Lewisham
• Newham
• Redbridge
• West Surrey
• Tower Hamlets

We've just heard that the last constituency seat for the Scottish Parliament has been declared. Uddingston and Bellshill is an SNP hold.

But that doesn't mean the results are finished yet, as Holyrood's regional members are still to be announced.

Out of the 129 seats available, 56 come from eight regions, which together cover all of Scotland. Each region elects seven MSPs.

This means people in Scotland are each represented by eight MSPs - one for their constituency, and another seven for their region.

Image source, PA Media

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has retained his place in Holyrood after winning a regional seat in Glasgow.

Earlier, Sarwar lost his attempt to win the Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok constituency, with the SNP beating him by more than 5,000 votes.

As a reminder, the Scottish Parliament is made up of 129 MSPs. Of that total, 73 represent local areas known as constituencies. The remaining 56 MSPs are drawn from eight regions, which cover the whole of Scotland. Each region elects seven MSPs.

Image source, PA Media

It's been a day filled with change.

Plaid Cymru have become the biggest party in the Welsh Parliament, bringing an end to Labour's decades-long dominance.

In England, Reform UK are winning big. Nigel Farage's party are up more than 1,350 seats compared to the last local elections, with 13 councils left to be declared.

Meanwhile, the BBC projects the Scottish National Party will win the most seats in Holyrood, but they will fall short of the 65 needed for a majority.

We've taken a look back at how party leaders across the UK have reacted:

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he "won't walk away" after Labour's poor performance and paid tribute to the "formidable" Eluned Morgan, who stepped down as leader of Welsh Labour after a historic defeat.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said it was a moment "100 years in the making" as his party overtook Labour to return the largest number of seats in the Senedd.

SNP leader John Swinney told BBC Scotland he was "absolutely delighted" with the Holyrood results, adding that Downing Street has "a lot of listening to do" after Labour was "hammered" in Scotland.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hailed a "historic shift" earlier, calling it a "big, big day" for the party and the "reshaping of British politics".

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said two-party politics was "dead and buried", as the Greens secured their first directly-elected mayor in Hackney. The party has gained over 315 council seats in England.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey described his party as the "only non-populist party left standing". The Lib Dems have seen the third-highest gains on English councils, gaining more than 75 seats so far.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, whose Conservative party has lost hundreds of council seats in England, said that "good strategy takes time".

Labour has lost Birmingham council - the UK's largest local authority - to no control.

As it stands, 79 of the 101 seats have been declared. For a majority, a party needs 51 seats.

Reform UK are currently leading the pack with 17 councillors, but with only 22 seats left to be declared they cannot win an overall majority.

The council is therefore under no overall control.

Sadaf Maruf & Colletta Smith

We’re gathering reaction in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, where 47 years of Labour control has been lost as the council is now under no overall control.

One third of seats were up for election in Tameside, with Reform winning 18 out of 19 seats in the poll.

Brad, 21, did not vote but says he's pleased Reform won the seats they did.

The results send a message that change is needed, he tells the BBC that Reform will be "better than Labour anyway".

Luke, who says he was homeless three years ago, also welcomes the change.

He says taxes need to be lower and that it is "unfair" that people can come to the UK and be handed things. He adds that things need to be better for those born in the UK.

"Things are very hard," he says. "We are going shopping now and we've only got 50 quid, but I got paid just a few days ago - but I've had to pay all the bills."

Charlotte, meanwhile, says she and her partner - who is Romanian - are a bit depressed about Reform's win, because their household are all Green supporters.

She's worried about misinformation and feels there is "an atmosphere of division and hate, which detracts from the real issues".

Bobbie, who was with her, says she voted for Labour and feels "a bit down and deflated".

She wanted to vote Green, she explains, but says the Labour candidate was the only one who was actually engaged with the local community.

Labour has lost Hackney to the Green Party, as well as three further London councils to no overall control.

In London, Labour has not managed to keep its majority in Southwark, Enfield and Brent.

Outside the capital, the party has also lost Coventry to no overall control.

With about 15 councils still to confirm their results, we'll keep bringing you updates as they come in.

We're now getting the first regional results in Scotland, and Reform UK have won their first seats there.

The Scottish Parliament is made up of 129 MSPs and, of that total, 73 represent local areas known as consituencies.

The remaining 56 MSPs are drawn from eight regions which cover the whole of Scotland. Each region elects seven MSPs.

Here are the first set of results for three of the eight regions:

• In Edinburgh and Lothians East: Three for the Scottish Greens, two for Labour, one for the Conservatives, one for Reform UK
• In North East Scotland: Two for the Conservatives, two for Reform UK, one for Labour, one for the Lib Dems, one for the Scottish Greens
• In Mid-Scotland and Fife: Two for the Conservatives, two for Labour, two for Reform UK, one for the Scottish Greens

Remind me, how do elections work in Scotland?

Reform continues to make gains this evening in England's councils, with just 19 left to be declared.

In the last hour, it's taken three councils - two from the Labour party: Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, and Sandwell in the West Midlands.

Reform also gained control in Walsall, which had formerly held no party majority.

For Labour, debates over where to go next will only get knottierpublished at 19:55 BST 8 May

19:55 BST 8 May

Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent

We shouldn’t forget that these figures always come with a pinch of salt, but they nevertheless have symbolic significance for those involved in politics.

The projected national share of the vote - which puts Reform at 26% - won't come as a surprise to anyone, but it will nevertheless feel like a hammer blow to many Labour MPs.

Heavy Labour losses have been baked in for some time, but we've been reporting for weeks now that the political consequences of those losses could be informed by the emotional reaction from Labour MPs.

In other words, anticipating defeat isn't the same thing as actually experiencing it.

To have fallen behind the Green Party in this projection will be deeply uncomfortable for many within the Labour party.

For some it will be evidence that the prime minister has focused too much on the threat from Reform on the right and not enough on the threat from the Greens on the left.

For others, the clearer water between Reform and the other parties will add to a feeling that a successful Labour party will need to take some votes back from Nigel Farage and that a tack to the left would be the wrong approach.

There is a very active conversation happening within Labour about where to go next. This projection will only make those debates knottier.