Starmer kicks off local election push with vow to fight for our values

Keir Starmer opened Labour’s local election campaign with a pledge to “fight for our values,” telling supporters at a West Midlands launch that the country should stand together. “This is about pride and hope,” he said, adding: “We’re going to fight to earn every vote. Fight for our values. And fight for the country we are building together, a Britain built for all. Because, in the context of everything that is happening in the world, those values, that fairness we stand for, it’s never been more important.”

Labour is braced for heavy losses in the May 7 elections, which will see more than 5,000 councillors contest seats across local government as well as the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Pollsters have warned Labour faces a “very substantial threat,” with some pundits suggesting a heavy defeat could raise questions over Sir Keir’s leadership. Lord Robert Hayward cautioned that the party could face a challenging night for a leadership figure already under pressure.

The party’s message centers on unity and pride in communities Labour says have been fractured by division. Starmer argued that opponents are trying to fracture social cohesion and urged Britons to “stand together.” He said the choice in this election is clear: a Britain built on shared values and fairness.

Across the campaign, Labour faces competition from Reform on the right and the Greens on the left as it fights to regain ground with voters who have drifted away. Party insiders say the campaign will test not only policy proposals but the strength of Labour’s narrative about national identity and the future Britain Labour aims to build.

Looking ahead, political observers say the result could shape Labour’s path forward. A heavy defeat could magnify questions about the leadership’s staying power, even as the party seeks to portray the vote as a referendum on values, unity, and the country Labour intends to build.

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