Europe

UK government seeks Brexit compromise after election fiasco

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May attends the Welsh Conservative party conference at Llangollen, Wales, Friday May 3, 2019. Britain's main Conservative and Labour parties took a hammering in local elections as Brexit-weary voters expressed frustration over the country's stalled departure from the European Union.(Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

Prime Minister Theresa May addresses delegates during the Scottish Conservatives' annual party conference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Friday May 3, 2019. Britain's main Conservative and Labour parties took a hammering in local elections as Brexit-weary voters expressed frustration over the country's stalled departure from the European Union. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Britain's governing Conservative Party says it is ready to compromise to secure a Brexit deal after suffering its worst result in local elections for more than 20 years.

In contests for local authorities across England, the party lost about 1,300 seats as voters punished the government for the U.K's Brexit impasse. The opposition Labour Party also suffered losses.

Almost three years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the date and terms of Brexit remain uncertain following months of political gridlock.

Both the Conservatives and Labour said the message coming from voters was: Get on with Brexit.

The parties plan more meetings next week to try to agree on departure terms.

Environment Secretary Matt Hancock said Saturday that the government needs "to be in the mood for compromise."