Keir Starmer launches Labour election campaign with focus on cost of living

Sir Keir Starmer has said his government "bears down on the cost of living" as he launched Labour's campaign for local elections in England. Speaking to supporters in Wolverhampton, the prime minister said the elections on 7 May were taking place against an "uncertain" backdrop with ongoing wars in Ukraine and Iran. He said people were worried about how the conflicts would affect their household bills and highlighted government policies he argued would ease the impact. Since the US and Israel launched missile strikes against Iran one month ago, there has been increasing concern that rises in the price of oil will lead to higher energy bills. Sir Keir said that from Wednesday, as a result of action taken by the government, energy bills would come down by about £100 and stay down until the end of June, regardless of what happens in the Iran conflict. From April some green levies will be scrapped or funded from general taxation, reducing energy bills. However, bills are likely to rise again in July when the energy price cap is reset. The prime minister sought to contrast his stance on Iran with that of his political opponents in the Conservatives, Reform UK and the Green Party. "This