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David Lammy urged the public to "wait and see" in a "desperate" BBC Breakfast plea amid the incoming local election results. The deputy prime minister appeared to support Keir Starmer as disastrous results for Labour began to trickle in overnight after polling stations closed at 10pm yesterday (May 7).

On BBC Breakfast, Lammy told viewers: "It is not unusual to be given a message by the electorate at a midterm election. Let's wait and see what comes in tonight. Yes, on the doorstep it has been tough. There has been frustration, and we will have to pick up pace and really hear the public, and deliver for the public.

"Not the status quo, what people want to see is genuine change in their lives, and they want to believe that the Labour Party can deliver for them."

Lammy refused to comment on the possibility of Starmer being replaced, stating: "People want to see the Labour Party deliver, and for councillors working hard, for activists, members on the doorstep making sure that our message is delivered locally, they want to see us nationally delivering on their behalf as well."

But furious viewers told him to "just leave" in a blistering attack on social media after the car crash interview.

One tweeted: "Perhaps the message is stop what you're doing. Not do it faster!"

Another echoed: "We would prefer you all to pick up your bags and leave!"

"Even if they 'hear the public', the problem is they will carry on doing what they want to anyway," a third X user posted.

Somebody else said: "The only way to stop the rise of Reform is to substantially improve the material conditions of the working class. Words will not do it and if people want to vote on the issues that Reform raise, they will vote Reform not a pale reflection."