Sir Keir Starmer launches Labour’s local elections push

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has launched his party’s local election campaign, promising to help households hit by the soaring cost of living.

He accused the Conservatives of giving a “pathetic” response to rising prices and pledged to cut energy bills through a windfall tax on oil and gas firms.

Sir Keir said he would “fight for every vote” in 5 May’s elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

Northern Ireland Assembly elections will also happen on that day.

The votes will be the first electoral test for party leaders since the war in Ukraine, increases to the cost of living and the row over parties held in Downing Street during lockdown.

Sir Keir kicked off Labour’s campaign by claiming families would be £2,620 a year worse off on average under the Conservatives.

It is not possible to verify these figures but the government’s economic forecaster has said the UK is facing the biggest drop in living standards since records began in 1956.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted household incomes will drop by 2.2% this year.

Speaking in Bury, Sir Keir told voters: “In exactly five weeks, you get the chance to send the Tories a message they cannot ignore – a message that Britain deserves better than the pathetic response we got to the Conservative cost of living crisis in the mini-Budget.”

Last week Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his Spring Statement, in which he set out measures aimed at easing the pain of rising prices, including a cut to fuel duty.

But Sir Keir said the government “takes far more than it gives to working people”, pointing to a coming rise in National Insurance tax.

“Labour would tackle the Tory cost-of-living crisis by cutting your bills by up to £600 funded by a windfall levy on the excess profits of the oil and gas companies,” he added.

The Labour leader also promised to change employment law to prevent “scandals like P&O” – a reference to the ferry company which sacked 800 staff without a consultation, in order to replace them with cheaper agency workers.

And on crime, he accused the government of not being “in control” and pledged to introduce police hubs “in every neighbourhood”.