By the political editor
Chesterfield, Friday, 4 April 2025
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer launched Labour’s local election campaign on Thursday with a stinging attack on Reform UK, accusing the right-wing party of “fawning over Vladimir Putin” and claiming its internal chaos proves it is unfit to lead.
Speaking at a rally in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, alongside his deputy Angela Rayner and Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves, Sir Keir declared Labour was the only party capable of delivering the “renewal the country needs”, urging voters to back Labour candidates at the local polls on 1 May.
With elections taking place for 23 councils and six mayoralties across England, and a key by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, the contests represent the first significant electoral test for the Prime Minister since taking office. They also offer the first real gauge of whether Reform UK’s recent polling surge will translate into meaningful gains at the ballot box.
In a fiery speech, Sir Keir made it clear that Labour views Reform UK as its primary rival from the right. He did not hold back, lambasting the party’s inconsistencies and internal feuds, referencing a recent fallout between Reform MP Rupert Lowe and party leader Nigel Farage.
“They say they want to run the country,” Starmer said, “but they can’t even run themselves.”
Taking aim at Reform’s claims to support working people, he continued: “They talk the language of workers’ rights. They talk it alright online, sometimes on the doorstep. But what did they actually do? They voted against banning fire and rehire, against scrapping exploitative zero-hour contracts, against sick leave and maternity pay. And what about the NHS? They want to charge people for using our NHS.”
Sir Keir added pointedly: “There’s nothing patriotic about fawning over Putin.”
His remarks followed earlier criticisms from Labour that Reform’s stance on foreign policy lacked clarity, particularly in relation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sir Keir also mocked the party’s limited parliamentary presence, saying its four MPs could “fit into the back of a cab”.
Labour’s campaign message will centre on health and public services, highlighting what it claims are early wins under the new administration. The Prime Minister touted the “swift action” taken to end planned doctors’ strikes, including a revised pay deal aimed at averting further industrial unrest. Labour points to NHS figures suggesting over half a million appointments were disrupted between July 2023 and March 2024 under the previous Conservative government.
However, the campaign’s launch was somewhat overshadowed by major global financial turmoil. News of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs sent stock markets into a tailspin, and raised fears about the impact on British exports, with a new 10% import levy now targeting UK goods entering the United States.
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Sir Keir acknowledged the potential economic blow, stating, “We are entering a new era in global trade.” But he resisted calls for an immediate tit-for-tat response, signalling a more diplomatic approach as his government seeks to negotiate a deal with Washington to limit the damage.
“We must act responsibly,” he said. “Retaliation may satisfy headlines, but it does not serve the long-term interests of the British economy.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hit back swiftly at the Prime Minister’s remarks, accusing him of “spreading outright Labour lies”.
“He says we want to charge people to use the NHS – no, we don’t,” said Mr Farage. “We want a better, more efficient model of funding. As for Putin, we believe what he’s done in Ukraine is utterly wrong – but that doesn’t mean we want to commit British troops there indefinitely.”
Sir Keir has pledged to support a future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine under NATO or UN command, but has yet to specify how many troops might be involved or for how long.
With just weeks to go until voters head to the polls, Labour is keen to seize the initiative – but with geopolitical instability and domestic challenges mounting, the path ahead is far from certain.
