India, May 9 -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said he takes responsibility for the "very tough" losses for the Labour Party in the local election, which threw up big wins for the anti-immigration Reform UK.

Speaking to reporters as the vote count for Thursday's UK-wide polls for local councils and devolved Scottish and Welsh parliaments continues, Starmer said the outcome would not weaken his resolve to carry on tackling the challenges facing the country's economy.

He is faced with calls to quit as party leader and prime minister after Labour lost its majorities in several key councils of Westminster, Southampton, Exeter, Redditch, Wandsworth, Hartlepool, Tamworth and Tameside.

"The results are tough, they are very toug...