𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

He said campaigners should be going to the doorstep telling the public to “vote Labour because of our values, vote Labour because of our leadership”. Sir Keir said MPs and election candidates were “fighting for Labour votes, for Labour values and Labour pride in whatever place you come from across the country – so important as we build a Britain for all”.

Labour is widely expected to face a pummelling at the crunch ballots, which are the biggest since the 2024 general election.

The PM lashed out at rival parties, claiming the UK would be “in a war with no plan” if the Conservative or Reform UK leaders were in charge and that the UK would be “weak and exposed” if Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch or Green leader Zack Polanski were in power.

Sir Keir insisted that his party understood that “whatever is going on in the world, whatever is going on in politics, and there’s a lot in both, most people are concerned most of all about the cost of living”.

He said that Labour, which has plummeted in national opinion polls since Sir Keir entered No 10, was going out into the campaign “on the front foot”.

He concluded: “(We are) relishing the opportunity to go to doorsteps and say to people: ‘Vote Labour for the following reasons: vote Labour because of our values, vote Labour because of our leadership. Vote Labour because it makes a huge difference to so many lives across the country.”

Thousands of seats are up for grabs in English councils at the May local elections, while there are also votes for the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments.

Pollster Lord Robert Hayward warned in March that Labour faced a “very substantial” threat.

There is speculation that Labour MPs could move to oust the embattled Prime Minister if the elections are a bloodbath for the party.