Labour has won just 14 of the 101 seats on Birmingham City Council with 28 seats left to declare.
The final result is still too close to call with Reform on 17 and the Conservatives on 16, with the Greens on nine and the Lib Dems on 13. Eight independent candidates have been elected.
Birmingham Live, which is at the count, reports that Labour leader of the council John Cotton is expected to lose his seat. Speaking to the publication he said: “It wasn’t our day today.”
He added the party must now “reflect” the message and “work on how we reconnect with communities”.
Cllr Cotton said he hoped the “progress that has been made” can be continued and the “benefits are not frittered away” by whoever succeeds him.
He said multi-party politics had been a factor, as well as the “tough decisions” the council has had to make in recent years, which had “some consequences”.
Cllr Cotton said it was not the prime minister’s fault and that the party needs “collective responsibility”.
Conservative group leader Robert Alden retained his seat.
The ongoing bin strike has been an issue in the city and when LGC visited the city last month one resident described the council as “naff”.
Elsewhere in the West Midlands the Conservative party has lost control of Solihull MBC, but remains the largest party with 24 of the 51 seats. Reform has 17 and the Lib Dems six.
Sandwell MBC’s Labour leader Kerrie Carmichael has lost her seat as Reform gained 32 seats, reducing Labour to 21, with 54 of the 72 seats so far declared.