Sir Keir Starmer has told newly elected Labour councillors they have been given a "mandate to deal with the cost of living" and delivery of this on a local level will act as a "blueprint" for their party in power.The Labour leader told a gathering of 22 council leaders at the opposition's headquarters in central London that the local election results reflect a British public "crying out for change" in politics.

Sir Keir Starmer has told newly elected Labour councillors they have been given a "mandate to deal with the cost of living" and delivery of this on a local level will act as a "blueprint" for their party in power.The Labour leader told a gathering of 22 council leaders at the opposition's headquarters in central London that the local election results reflect a British public "crying out for change" in politics.