Labour has won just 14 of the 101 seats on Birmingham City Council with 28 seats left to declare.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t our day today.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added the party must now \u201creflect\u201d the message and \u201cwork on how we reconnect with communities\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cllr Cotton said he hoped the \u201cprogress that has been made\u201d can be continued and the \u201cbenefits are not frittered away\u201d by whoever succeeds him.<\/p>\n
He said multi-party politics had been a factor, as well as the \u201ctough decisions\u201d the council has had to make in recent years, which had \u201csome consequences\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cllr Cotton said it was not the prime minister\u2019s fault and that the party needs \u201ccollective responsibility\u201d.<\/p>\n
Conservative group leader Robert Alden retained his seat.<\/p>\n