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Voting has ended in local and devolved elections that many believe could trigger the unravelling of Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, with Labour facing potentially catastrophic losses across England, Scotland and Wales.

Up to 1,800 council seats are expected to fall across 136 English areas, and the party's 27-year dominance in Wales appears finished as Plaid Cymru and Reform close in. North of the border, the SNP is expected to hold on at Holyrood with Labour stuck in third - though Reform could vault into second place if Farage's party delivers the strong performance its supporters are anticipating. The mood within the party is so bleak that activists have reportedly been warned not to be caught weeping on camera as the results come in across the next two days.

If results prove as bad as anticipated, pressure on Sir Keir will intensify significantly - as will scrutiny of the senior Labour figures positioning themselves to succeed him. The names most frequently mentioned as potential successors are Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham - though each carries significant baggage.

Ms Rayner remains in negotiations with HMRC over unpaid tax. Mr Burnham is not currently in the Commons and would need to win a Westminster seat in a by-election before mounting a leadership challenge.

Meanwhile, one aide told the Daily Mail there was no consensus around any successor - and that the field remained wide open.

Sir Keir's allies have been drawing up what is described as a desperate survival plan for the immediate aftermath. According to government sources, Sir Keir is set to deliver a significant speech on Monday aimed at calming rebellious backbenchers, with closer EU ties expected to feature prominently.

Downing Street is also understood to be torn over the timing of a potential cabinet reshuffle, with some pushing for it to happen on Saturday before the count is even complete. One aide told the Daily Mail the idea was gaining "a lot of traction," with any overhaul needing to be complete before Monday's speech.

But the same aide cast doubt on its impact. "What's the point of a reshuffle if you're just going to sack Liz Kendall and Peter Kyle," they said. "It doesn't move the dial."

Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell struck a downbeat tone after polls closed, saying: "These elections are tough and took place in a difficult context. After over a decade of Britain being held back, working people up and down the country rightly want to see the whole of our United Kingdom firing on all cylinders in their interests. Labour has started to deliver on that promise and we are determined to make it happen everywhere for everyone."

The results are widely expected to deal a severe blow to Britain's traditional two-party dominance, with disenchanted voters turning to Reform and the Greens in numbers that could reshape the political landscape.

A More in Common poll has suggested Labour could be ousted from its Birmingham City Council stronghold by Reform, while the Greens are eyeing significant gains across London. Many within the party suspect the scale of the losses will be sufficient to sweep Sir Keir from power - even in the absence of a clear successor.

Across England, nearly 25,000 candidates are vying for more than 5,000 council seats. Scotland's entire 129-seat Holyrood parliament is being contested, and Welsh voters are electing all 96 Senedd members.

Nigel Farage, speaking at a campaign rally in St Helens, Merseyside, boasted that Labour would be "wiped out" in Red Wall areas across the North and the Midlands.