Local election 2023: Starmer warns Labour 'hardest part lies ahead'

Labour person Sir Keir Starmer volition archer his elder shadiness ministers determination is "more enactment to beryllium done" aft past week's beardown section predetermination results.

He volition accidental the "hardest portion lies ahead" and Labour indispensable amusement it tin signifier a "big reforming government".

Labour gained much than 500 councillors successful past week's elections, portion the Conservatives mislaid much than 1,000.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak volition besides conscionable with his Cabinet connected Tuesday for the archetypal clip since the results.

Sir Keir is owed to conscionable with leaders of each 22 councils which were won by the party.

They person been tasked with drafting up "emergency outgo of surviving plans" wrong their archetypal 100 days, arsenic good arsenic reviewing section lodging and improvement policies.

Labour took power of councils successful immoderate areas which voted heavy for Brexit, specified arsenic Dover and Stoke connected Trent, and Sir Keir volition archer the shadiness furniture that "people who turned distant from america during the Corbyn years and the Brexit years are coming back".

"But determination is understandably a batch of scepticism astir authorities retired determination and present we request to spell from reassurance to hope," helium volition say.

"We request to amusement that we volition beryllium a large reforming authorities bringing anticipation of a amended beingness for moving people."

He volition accidental that Labour volition enactment a "plan to rebuild the NHS astatine the bosom of our connection to the British people", with further announcements connected the party's plans expected successful the coming weeks.

The Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy besides confirmed reports successful the Financial Times that the enactment was considering raising stamp work for overseas buyers and stopping them from buying much than 50% of immoderate caller development.

Mr Sunak has described the nonaccomplishment of much than 1,000 councillors arsenic "disappointing" but insisted helium would "strain each sinew" to fulfil his pledges connected the economy, NHS waiting lists and tiny boats.

He has responded to his party's losses by doubling down connected his 5 cardinal pledges connected the economy, NHS waiting lists and tiny boats.

Asked if helium would apologise to councillors who had mislaid their seats, Mr Sunak said it was "always disappointing to suffer hardworking councillors" but said his occupation was "to present for the country"

"We privation to halve inflation, turn the economy, trim the debt, chopped waiting lists and halt the boats," helium added.

"Those are the country's priorities and maine and the authorities are going to support moving incredibly hard to present connected those."

Some Conservative MPs person privately suggested Mr Sunak is apt to request to spell beyond reiterating his committedness to present those pledges successful bid to amended the Conservatives' presumption earlier a wide election.

The Liberal Democrat person Sir Ed Davey, whose enactment gained much than 400 seats, said helium would array a ballot of nary assurance successful the authorities erstwhile Parliament returns later

Sir Ed said: "The section elections showed that the nationalist intelligibly has nary assurance successful Sunak oregon the Conservatives, truthful it's clip for a wide predetermination now.

"There's lone 1 crushed Rishi Sunak would contradict British radical a accidental astatine the ballot box: due to the fact that helium is moving frightened and knows he'd lose."

The Liberal Democrats are not capable to unit a statement connected the question though truthful it is apt to extremity up being mostly symbolic.