Jeremy Corbyn slams Keir Starmer’s Labour Party as 'offering nothing' to voters

The Labour leader has slammed the party under Sir Keir's leadership

Former leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has slammed the party as “offering nothing” to voters under Keir Starmer’s leadership.

His comments come in the wake of several blows to Labour in local elections, with the party losing one of its former strongholds in Hartlepool early on Thursday (May 7).

Asked by Channel 4 whether Sir Keir should resign as Labour leader, Corbyn said:

It’s up to him what he decides to do.

“But the important thing is that this party represents a real, radical alternative to inspire people.

“Offering nothing, offering insipid support for the Government causes people either to vote for somebody else or simply to stay home and disappear.”

Results so far have seen the Conservatives make several gains around the country, taking Pendle, Maidstone, Cornwall, Nottinghamshire, Basildon, Northumberland, Dudley, and Nuneaton and Bedworth councils from no overall control.

They also took control of of Harlow council, in Essex, from Labour.

Labour, meanwhile, has lost Sheffield, Plymouth and Rossendale to no overall control.

Conservative Ben Houchen was re-elected mayor of Tees Valley, and received a huge share – 73 per cent – of the vote. This marked a swing of 23 per cent from Labour.

Mr Houchen said there was "pride returning" to the area, adding that it was "not true" that the government had pumped lots of money into it over the past few years only because it was run by a Conservative.

Sir Keir has called the results so far “bitterly disappointing” for Labour, and has promised to re-strategise in the coming days to “reconnect” the party to voters.

Asked earlier if the Labour Party was facing an existential crisis, Sir Keir Starmer said “no”.

He added: “The Labour Party has to rise to the challenge of reconnecting with working people.

“We were set up to represent working people, we need to reconnect, rebuild that trust.

“That means learning the lessons of the results that are in so far and putting a much stronger and bolder case to the country.”