Latest updates as Starmer to launch Labour local election campaign with swipe at levelling up

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Conservative Party of killing its levelling up policy “at birth” as Labour launches its local election campaign.

Writing in The Times, the Labour leader and the party’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, said there were parts of the policy that “talked a good game” but that it was “killed at birth by the then chancellor, Rishi Sunak, who refused to back it”.

At the official launch of Labour’s local election campaign, Sir Keir is set to accuse the Prime Minister of “bottling” calling a general election.

Voters will go to the polls on 2 May to elect local councillors and mayors. No date has been set for the general election.

Follow the latest updates with i‘s liveblog.