Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have launched Labour’s local election campaign with a promise to “bring change to Britain,” as the party urges voters to back its candidates in the upcoming May 1st polls.
Visiting the Midlands on Thursday, the Labour leadership called on the public “to play their part in delivering the renewal the country needs,” with the NHS at the heart of their campaign message. The launch marks the first major electoral test for Labour since its general election victory last July, setting the stage for a nationwide assessment of the party’s standing.
Labour’s focus on the NHS
With the campaign now in full swing, Labour has chosen to spotlight healthcare as a key issue, citing its “swift action” in resolving planned doctors’ strikes. The party has highlighted its success in reaching a pay deal with junior doctors, a move it claims has helped avoid further disruption to NHS services.
Labour is drawing comparisons to the previous government’s handling of industrial action, pointing to NHS data showing that 507,000 appointments were cancelled between July 2023 and March 2024 due to strike action. In contrast, Labour argues that its early intervention in pay negotiations has ensured stability for patients and medical staff alike.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting underscored the significance of ending the strikes, stating:
“Half-a-million operations stopped because of strike action weren’t just an inconvenience—they meant hundreds of thousands of patients living through more pain, more stress, and more disappointment.
“That’s exactly why, within days of coming into office, I got round the table with resident doctors and put an end to these crippling strikes.
“It was a tough negotiation, but we came out with a fair offer, and patients immediately started seeing the benefit.”
Labour also claims to have delivered over two million extra appointments since taking office, citing NHS figures that show almost 2.2 million additional elective care appointments between July and November 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
An electoral test for Labour
The upcoming local elections, alongside a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby following the resignation of ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury, will be a crucial test of Labour’s ability to consolidate its support.
With elections taking place for 23 councils and six mayoralties across England, the results will provide an indication of the political landscape ahead of the next general election.
However, the party faces a challenging economic backdrop, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves implementing a series of spending cuts in an effort to stabilise the country’s finances. Additionally, the prospect of global tariffs proposed by former US President Donald Trump has cast uncertainty over Britain’s economic outlook.
Despite these challenges, Labour remains optimistic about its prospects. Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves framed the election as a chance for voters to endorse the Government’s progress:
“Labour is the only party with a Plan for Change. We’re finally turning the tide on 14 years of Conservative chaos and decline which badly let working people down.
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“Whether it be through putting more money in people’s pockets through our boost to the minimum wage, fixing our NHS, or investing in our roads to finally end the Tory potholes plague, Labour is delivering the change working people voted for last year.
“By electing Labour councillors and Labour mayors on Thursday, May 1st, you can help bring change to your area – and bring change to Britain.”
The road ahead
As the campaign gathers momentum, Labour will seek to convince voters that it has already made meaningful progress in government and can continue delivering change at the local level. With the NHS as its key electoral focus, the party is aiming to capitalise on dissatisfaction with the previous government’s handling of public services.
The local elections will provide a snapshot of the public’s perception of Labour’s leadership and policies. A strong performance would reinforce confidence in Starmer’s administration, while any setbacks could signal areas where the Government still has work to do.
With just weeks to go until polling day, the stage is set for a crucial contest that could shape Labour’s trajectory in the years ahead.
