Milan, 8 May (LaPresse) – The results of the local elections “hurt” and are “very tough; there’s no way to sugar-coat it”, but “days like this do not weaken my determination to deliver the change I promised; they strengthen my determination to do so”. So said the British Prime Minister, Labour’s Keir Starmer, in his comments on the initial results of yesterday’s local elections. “We have lost brilliant Labour representatives across the country, people who have given so much to their communities and to our party. This hurts, it has to hurt, and I take responsibility for it,” he said. The BBC notes that counting is currently underway in only some parts of England, whilst in other areas it will begin later this morning, just as counting for the elections in Scotland and Wales will also begin later. At present, Labour has lost control of nine local councils and more than 250 seats, but the British broadcaster points out that Labour was defending the largest number of seats and that, so far, only a portion of the results are available.