Rishi Sunak targets 'arrogant' Starmer at Tory local election launch

Rishi Sunak has attacked Sir Keir Starmer for "arrogantly" taking voters for granted and "assuming he can just stroll into No 10".

The PM claimed the Labour leader had no plan for how to run the country, at the Tories' local election campaign launch.

Mr Sunak said voters should look to councils like Birmingham's to see what Labour would do if they win power.

Sir Keir claims the PM is "scared" of calling an immediate general election because of his record in office.

With Labour far ahead in national opinion polls, many Conservatives are braced for a bad night on 2 May, when council elections are being held across England.

Mr Sunak, who has been dogged by speculation that rebel Tory MPs are plotting to replace him, sought to portray himself as an electoral underdog in a speech to Tory activists.

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Speaking at a rally in Heanor, Derbyshire, he said Sir Keir was "arrogantly taking the British people for granted" and "assuming that he can just stroll into Number 10 without saying what he would do".

"We all know he can't tell you what he would do differently because he doesn't have a plan," said Mr Sunak, urging voters to "send a message to Keir Starmer".

He drew comparisons between councils run by Labour and Conservatives, claiming "Whenever Labour run something they run it into the ground".

Eight councils, run by both Labour and the Conservatives, have declared effective bankruptcy since 2018, with others warning they could be next as they struggle to make further cuts.

Labour-run Birmingham City Council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September last year and has been forced to embark on an avalanche of cost-cutting measures, as well as raising council tax by 21%.

"In Birmingham, they've effectively bankrupted the biggest local authority in Europe," he said. "They've saddled their constituents with a 21% council tax rise, that's not a typo: 21% council tax rise.

"What do you get for that? Hundreds of job losses, services slashed, streetlights being dimmed or switched off, making the streets less safe.

"They're not even going to collect the rubbish as much as they used to - and they're going to charge you, when the rats come, to take the rats away. That's what you get."

He also accused London mayor Sadiq Khan of "being more interested in virtue signalling than delivering" and wanting to "tax motorists off the road".

On 2 May, voters will go to the polls to choose councillors in more than 100 local authorities, as well as 11 mayors, 37 police and crime commissioners, and London Assembly members.

The Conservative launch comes after the Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey kicked off campaigning in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, earlier this week.

Mr Davey accused Rishi Sunak of "squatting in Downing Street" after "bottling" calling a May general election.

Labour has not yet announced details of their local election campaign launch.