Labour claims English local election gains put it ‘on course for government’
The Guardian says Labour has said it is on track to win the next election, after taking control of key councils in the English local elections, including Medway, Plymouth and Stoke-on-Trent.
Based on results counted early on Friday morning, the party said it was heading for a result that if repeated across the country at a general election would give them an eight-point lead over the Conservatives.
Labour insisted this would be enough to win an election, taking into account a projected collapse of the Scottish National party. But it fell short of the 10-point lead experts said the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, would need to feel confident of becoming the next prime minister.