Starmer and Badenoch clash as Labour and Tories brace for tough elections

Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives are defending many seats won in the 2021 local elections on Thursday (House of Commons/PA) - (PA Media)

Sir Keir Starmer is braced for a difficult set of election results, but allies insisted he was not running scared of voters.

The Prime Minister has not visited Runcorn and Helsby, where Labour faces a battle against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK to hold on to a Commons seat Sir Keir’s party won with 53% of the vote less than a year ago.