Labour has been dealt three huge blows in council elections as voters revolt against the winter fuel payments cut.

The Conservatives gained two council seats from Labour last night, and a third just two nights ago.

In Marine ward, Worthing, the Tories took the seat with a swing of 12% from Labour.

In West End ward, Westminster, the Tories took the seat with a swing of 9.5% from Labour.

Just two days ago in Gedling, a key red wall seat the Tories won in 2019 but lost in July, the Tories took the council ward with a 14.3% swing away from Labour.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems also benefitted last night from Labour’s growing political troubles, with a huge 27% swing from Labour to them, handing them a council seat in Bromsgrove.

And in Hartlepool, Reform UK came dangerously close to taking a council seat off them, as Labour’s vote fell by 7 points and Mr Farage’s party rocketed up 23.9%.

Last night, left-wing journalist Aaron Bastani observed: “In 3 council by-elections tonight Labour are down -19%, -19% and -29%”

“I’m sure it’s nothing and everything is fine….”

“You suspect lots of good Labour councillors will lose wards next May because Starmer just simply can’t say no to free designer ties and glasses.

“A bizarre and puzzling start to his premiership.”

Meanwhile the Tories were jubilant about their victories, with 2024 candidate Anthony Boutall rejoicing: “This is a phenomenal result, and it shows the @Conservatives are back in London!”

Fellow 2024 candidate Johnny Luk observed: “This – and several other local by-election results today; point to a noticeable drop in support from Labour.”

“No honeymoon for them.”

Former Tory MP Chris Clarkson added: “Brutal… this dishonest, grasping, arrogant Government is already being seen for what it really is.”

Councillor Aled Thomas said: “It’s been a terrible night for Labour”.

Another X user pointed out that the Tories gained the ward containing Oxford Street from Labour, just days after Sadiq Khan overruled Westminster Council and pushed ahead with pedestrianisation plans for the iconic shopping street.

Author Ben Cobley warned: “Labour has started determinedly losing council by-elections to the despised Tories, in its honeymoon period.”

However Ben Walker of polling aggregator Britain Elects warned that Labour may still be set to luck out come next May’s local elections, as many of them are county seats that haven’t voted since 2021, so Labour could still be set for big gains.

The result in Marine (Worthing) was highlighted by former Jeremy Corbyn advisor Andrew Fisher, who noted: “It’s a ward with a large pensioner population”.

The Labour pounding comes after weeks of Labour rows, including the cuts to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners, Sue Gray’s salary, and Sir Keir’s ‘passes for glasses’ sleaze row surrounding freebie donations from mega-rich donors.