Keir Starmer concedes Labour is facing a 'challenge' ahead of local elections but has faith in 'fantastic team'

Sir Keir Starmer has admitted Labour faces a "challenge" in Thursday’s elections across England, Wales and Scotland, but insisted he has faith in his "fantastic team". Speaking at a party campaign rally in south London, the Prime Minister was asked how he could convince voters to support his party in Thursday’s election, as it faces a slump in opinion polls. Sir Keir replied: "As you can see, we’ve got a fantastic Labour team working every single day in London and across the country, campaigning with fantastic councillors and candidates and with a very positive message. "Of course, it’s going to be a challenge, but it is really important we go in fighting for every vote, which has to be earned, in relation to this." He added: "We know that whatever is going on in the world, whatever is going on in politics, the thing that people care about, are most concerned about, is the cost of living. "So it’s really important that we as a Government keep our focus on the cost of living, and in particular just at the moment, make sure that although we’re not going to get drawn into the war in Iran. "I’ve been really clear about that, but we have a duty, and we must protect the British public from the impact of that, and that’s what I’ll continue doing." It follows a severe warning from Communities Secretary and key ally of the Prime Minister Steve Reed, who said Labour MPs should not engage in "doomscrolling" through leaders even if the party suffers heavy losses to Reform, the Green Party, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. Labour MPs warned against 'doomscrolling through leaders' amid plot to pressure Keir Starmer into setting resignation date Labour MPs have been warned against "doomscrolling through leaders" amid a plot to pressure Sir Keir Starmer into setting his resignation date. The Prime Minister's backbenchers are reportedly drafting a letter which outlines that he is to blame for the party’s projected by-election defeat and consequently, he should resign. Speaking to Times Radio earlier today, Communities Minister Steve Reed, regarded as one of the Prime Minister's closest Cabinet allies, insisted he had no knowledge of any such correspondence being circulated among MPs. "I speak to a lot of my fellow MPs, of course I do all the time, but also council leaders, and they're sick and tired of all of this psychodrama," he said. READ THE FULL STORY HERE. Labour will be 'smashed to smithereens' in Senedd elections, claims Nigel Farage Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during a rally in Merthyr Tydfil | PA Labour will be "smashed to smithereens" in the Welsh Parliament election this week, Nigel Farage has said. Speaking at a Reform rally in Merthyr Tydfil on Tuesday, the party leader said Wales has become a "basket case" after being led by Labour for more than two decades. Reform and Plaid Cymru have consistently topped opinion polls in Wales ahead of the vote on Thursday, while Labour has dropped into third place. Mr Farage said: "The Labour Party have not lost an election in Wales for over a century, think about that. "The party that has been able, frankly, to take Wales for granted for over 100 years, on Thursday, will deservedly get smashed to smithereens by the electorate. And, boy, don’t they deserve it." The Clacton MP also described Plaid Cymru as "anti-English" and "hard leftists". He said: "The opinion polls will tell you that Plaid are in the lead...Just as they told us that 'remain' would win the referendum. Don’t believe what you’re being told, because the key to success for us here on Thursday is very simple. "There is already, in my opinion, a majority for good common sense, a majority for decent, patriotic values, a majority that believe, as we believe, that family, community and country are the things that matter to most of us, that we stand up for, defend and fight for. "What we have to do is to get them to actually, physically go to the polling station this Thursday and put their cross in the right place." Plaid Cymru pulls ahead of Reform in latest Senedd opinion poll Plaid Cymru has jumped ahead of Reform UK to be the predicted largest party in Wales, according to the latest poll. According to MRP modelling by YouGov for ITV in partnership with Cardiff University, Rhun ap Iorwerth’s party win 33 per cent of the vote share, four percentage points ahead of Reform UK at 29 per cent. Labour poll at 12 per cent in third place, with the Welsh Conservatives just behind on nine per cent. The Green Party has dropped into fifth place at eight per cent, while the Welsh Liberal Democrats fall into last place on just six per cent. Dr Jac Larner from Cardiff University's Welsh Governance Centre told ITV Wales: "Plaid appear to have opened a small gap in the final days but this still remains an incredibly close race. "It also highlights how relatively small changes in vote share can have outsized impacts in terms of seat allocation." Kemi Badenoch says Labour faces 'shadow leadership contest' after this week's local elections Kemi Badenoch addressed a campaign rally in Solihull | PA Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said Labour came into power "without a single idea" as she said the party faces a "shadow leadership contest." Speaking at a campaign rally in Solihull, West Midlands, Mrs Badenoch criticised the record of Labour-run Birmingham City Council, saying that a refuse worker strike had led to "food rotting in the streets, rats as big as cats". She added: "People learned that if you vote Labour, you get trash." Mrs Badenoch continued: "Labour’s problem is that after 14 years in opposition, they came into power without a single idea of how to fix anything. "They are now having a shadow leadership contest talking about what their party should stand for two years into Government, these people have no plan but we do." Former Green leader says party must take 'immediate action' against candidates who have made antisemitic comments The former leader of the Greens has called on the party to take "immediate action" against candidates who have made antisemitic remarks. Caroline Lucas, who led the Green Party from 2003 to 2006, 2007 to 2012, and from 2016 to 2018, said that while the number of such cases was limited, they should not be ignored. She said: "Statements that have now come to light from a handful of Green Party candidates are totally unacceptable & require immediate action. "There’s no place for anti-semitism or any hate speech in the party. This is a society-wide problem & needs to be rooted out wherever it’s found." A Green spokesman said: "Caroline Lucas is right, there’s no place for antisemitism or hate speech in any party. "She acknowledges that unacceptable comments have been made by just a small number of the 4,500-plus Green party candidates in these local elections. "Where there are examples brought to our attention that do not align with the values of the Green party, we are looking into them, and in some cases candidates have already been suspended. "We are investing in strengthening our vetting procedures to prevent inappropriate candidates slipping through the net." Keir Starmer admits Labour faces 'challenge' at polls this week Keir Starmer has admitted his party faces a 'challenge' this week | GETTY Labour faces a "challenge" in Thursday’s elections across England, Wales and Scotland, Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged, amid reports that MPs are already plotting to oust him for fear of heavy losses for the party. The majority of people care about the cost-of-living crisis when casting their ballot, the Prime Minister said, as he insisted the Government would aim to fulfil its "duty" to the public to protect them from rising costs caused by the war in the Middle East. Sir Keir made the remarks at a Labour campaign rally in south London on Tuesday, amid reports that his backbenchers are reported to be drafting a letter blaming him for the expected loss of hundreds of council seats across England, and calling on him to set a date for his resignation. The move would echo the drafting of a round-robin letter by normally loyal Labour MPs in 2006 that contributed to Tony Blair announcing he would step down within 12 months. At the campaign event, Sir Keir was asked how he could convince voters to support his party in Thursday’s election, as it faces a slump in opinion polls. The Prime Minister replied: "As you can see, we’ve got a fantastic Labour team working every single day in London and across the country, campaigning with fantastic councillors and candidates and with a very positive message. "Of course, it’s going to be a challenge, but it is really important we go in fighting for every vote, which has to be earned, in relation to this." Ed Davey says Golders Green stabbings must mark 'turning point' The stabbings in Golders Green must mark a "turning point" in confronting antisemitism across the UK, Sir Ed Davey said. The Liberal Democrat leader was visiting a London synagogue when he described rising antisemitism as akin to a “frog in boiling water” that most people had not noticed. He added : "But you noticed: the Jewish community hasn’t been able to avoid it because this has been building for a long time, and last week’s attack must be a turning point where our whole society takes this as seriously as you do and stamps it out.” The Lib Dem leader said he had been "very critical" of the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, adding that it was "incumbent” upon him to do so while insisting he was doing it as a "proud and long-standing friend of Israel". He said: "I believe we have shown, like many in our Jewish communities have shown, that it is perfectly possible to be critical of what Netanyahu is doing, it is perfectly possible to stand up for human rights and international law, that is perfectly possible, to speak out on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, without fuelling antisemitism," Zack Polanski is a 'clueless luvvy who encourages those who attack police', Labour MP tells GB News A Labour MP has accused Zack Polanski of being a "clueless luvvy" as he took aim at the Green Party leader. Pendle & Clitheroe MP Steve Pinder claimed the Green leader is looking to push "absurd" policies onto forces across England and Wales. He told GB News: "Police officers across the country will be dismayed that the Green Party are more concerned about the welfare of violent criminals than they are about the brave police officers who protect the public. "It is extremely worrying the leader of a national party is encouraging this anti-police sentiment, which only encourages those who would undermine and attack our police. "The Greens are a joke on policing and crime. Ethnic minority Brits support the professional use of stop and search, in part because it is young black men who are disproportionately the victims of street violence. "Only clueless luvvies like Polanski and others can afford absurd policies like 'defunding the police'." READ THE FULL STORY HERE. Prosecutors told to fast-track hate crime trials amid 'troubling rise' in antisemitic attacks Prosecutors have been told to "fast-track" hate crime prosecutions following a "troubling rise" in antisemitic hate crimes. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson has issued guidance to prosecutors which says "any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently" once the evidential threshold for a charge is met. READ THE FULL STORY HERE. Keir Starmer says plans are 'in place' for those stranded on MV Hondius The outbreak occurred on board MV Hondius | GETTY Sir Keir Starmer said Labour is "putting plans in place" for British nationals on board a ship which is at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak. The Prime Minister said: "My thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard