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Watch Nigel Farage’s response to Keir Starmer’s local election launch here.

A minister is visiting Birmingham as the Government was urged to intervene in a dispute involving refuse collectors which is leading to tonnes of rubbish piling up on the city’s streets.

Local government minister Jim McMahon will meet council chiefs in an effort to end the bin strike and the Government will “not hesitate to act” if they need support, Downing Street said.

Members of Unite in Birmingham launched an all-out strike last month in a dispute over pay and jobs, which is causing misery for residents who say they face a public health crisis.

The council declared the dispute a major incident earlier this week in a bid to increase collections of bin sacks.

The local polls – and a by-election in the Runcorn and Helsby seat vacated by ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury – will be the first big electoral test for Sir Keir since last July’s general election.

Ballots will be held for 23 councils and six mayoralties in England.

Sir Keir Starmer said there was “nothing patriotic” about Reform UK’s attitude towards Vladimir Putin as he launched

Labour’s local election campaign with a promise to “bring change to Britain”.

The Prime Minister accused the party of “fawning over” the Russian president and mocked the size of its parliamentary ranks, saying its four MPs could “fit into the back of a cab”.

In a sign of how focused Labour is on the threat from Reform at the polls on May 1, Sir Keir said the party “says it wants to run the country” but “can’t even run itself” – a reference to the fallout between MP Rupert Lowe and leader Nigel Farage.

During a speech in Chesterfield on Thursday, he said: “They talk the language of workers’ rights. They talk it alright online, sometimes on the doorstep.

“But what did they do? They voted against banning fire and rehire, they voted against scrapping exploitative zero hour contracts, they voted against sick leave and maternity pay…

“And what about the NHS? They want to charge people for using our NHS.”

Sir Keir added: “There’s nothing patriotic about fawning over Putin.”

Sir Keir Starmer revealed just how worried Labour is about Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as he launched his party’s local election campaign in the iconic Red Wall seat of Bolsover.

Some of the strongest attack lines were not aimed at Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives but at the insurgent party, which he accused of “fawning over Putin”, opposing workers’ rights and wanting to charge people for using the NHS.

The intensity of the attack shows that Labour consider Reform UK a true threat in next month’s local and mayoral elections, and the two parties will be fighting for first place in the Runcorn by-election.

Read the full analysis here

Daily Express Chief Political Commentator David Williamson gives his expert take on Labour’s local election launch

Savers and pension holders have been warned of the risks of making “knee-jerk” decisions, after Donald Trump unveiled tariffs on countries globally.

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that during times of market volatility, it is important that “eyes are kept on long-term investment horizons”.

She said that, in general, investors can help navigate volatility by ensuring portfolios are “well diversified, without too much concentration on a particular market, and with money spread across different asset classes and geographies”.

Hitting out at Nigel Farage’s party, Sir Keir Starmer said: “They say they want to run the country. They can’t even run themselves. You can literally fit their MPs now in a back of a cab, but they still don’t know where they’re going.

“They talk the language of workers’ rights. They talk it all right – online, sometimes on the doorstep.

“But what do they do? They voted against banning hire and refire. They voted against scrapping exploitative, zero-hour contracts. They voted against sick leave and maternity pay. That’s what they do. And what about the NHS? They want to charge people for using our NHS.

“They claim to be the party of patriotism. I’ll tell you this: there’s nothing patriotic about fawning over Putin.”

Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged that “people are still struggling” with the cost of living.

However, he said the difference between the Labour and Conservative governments is “night and day”.

Addressing Labour’s local elections launch in the East Midlands, the Prime Minister said: “I know people are still struggling with the cost of living.

“You know that, you see it every day, but the difference between us the last nine months and 14 years of a Tory government. The difference, it’s night and day.”

Pointing to issues such as reductions in NHS waiting lists, interest rate cuts as well as increases to the minimum wage, he said “that’s the change that Labour makes”.

Sir Keir Starmer is giving a speech in Derbyshire as he kicks off Labour’s local election campaign.

Angela Rayner has said the country needs Labour leaders as she and Sir Keir Starmer launched the party’s local election campaign in the East Midlands.

“We know cleaning up the Tories’ mess will take time and it will be hard graft. We need the determination to deliver it and it has to be fought for,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“That is why we need great Labour mayors, leaders and councillors delivering the change across our great towns, cities and counties, so that we can transform the lives of people at a local level.”

She added: “On the first of May, people across this country have the opportunity to bring change to their local communities and make sure that Conservative councils who have let public services crumble and our streets fill with potholes are held to account.”

Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: “I’m glad the Government has recommitted to reaching a deal with our closest ally and largest single country trading partner.

“This is also a moment for honesty and telling the truth. The Government sadly got no special favours from the White House last night. The Secretary of State refers to vindication, this is no vindication at all, we’re in precisely the same band as the Congo, Costa Rica, Kosovo and the Christmas Islands.

“In fact, I count over 125 countries and territories that have the same tariff levels as the US as we now do, so not that special.”

A request for input on “possible retaliatory action” to Donald Trump’s tariffs is to be launched by the UK Government on Thursday, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said.

He told the Commons: “It remains our belief that the best route to economic stability for working people is a negotiated deal with the US that builds on our shared strengths. However, we do reserve the right to take any action we deem necessary if a deal is not secured.

“To enable the UK to have every option open to us in future, I am today launching a request for input on the implications for British businesses of possible retaliatory action. This is a formal step, necessary for us to keep all options on the table.

“We will seek the views of UK stakeholders over four weeks until May 1 2025, on products that could potentially be included in any UK tariff response. This exercise will also give businesses the chance to have their say and influence the design of any possible UK action.

“If we are in a position to agree an economic deal with the US that lifts the tariffs that have been placed on our industries, this request for input will be paused, and any measures flowing from that will be lifted.

“Further information on the request for input will be published on gov.uk later today, alongside an indicative list of potential products that the Government considers most appropriate for inclusion.”

The UK only being hit by 10% import taxes by the US has “vindicated” the Government’s approach to talks with the United States, the Business Secretary has insisted.

In a statement to the Commons, Jonathan Reynolds described the decision as disappointing.

Mr Reynolds said trade with the US was worth £315 billion, second only to that with the European Union, which is worth £791 billion. He said 2.5 million jobs in the UK and US are linked to trade between the two nations.

He said: “No country was able to secure an exemption from these announcements, but the UK did receive the lowest reciprocal tariff rate globally. And though this vindicates the pragmatic approach this Government has taken, we know that while these tariffs are still being levied, the job is far from done.

“We are, of course, disappointed by the increase in tariffs on the UK and on other countries around the world. The impact will be felt amongst all trading nations.”

Mr Reynolds said talks with the US on an “economic deal” are still ongoing. He said a deal would “not just avoid the imposition of significant tariffs but would deepen our economic relationship, on everything from defence, economic security, financial services, machinery, tech and regulation”.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is giving a statement to the Commons on Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The Conservatives have accused Labour of “failing” over tariffs.

The Tory leader has warned Donald Trump his tariffs will hurt the American people.

She said: “If we fail to learn the lessons of history we will be doomed to repeat them.

“President Trump’s tariffs will not make the US wealthier but they will make all of us poorer. Ronald Reagan understood this because he lived through when it happened before.

” Leaving the EU has left us in a stronger position on trade.

“We now have an independent trade policy but this only works if it is used properly by people who know what they’re doing.

“The only party with any recent experience of negotiating deals is the Conservatives. We are here and ready to help in the national interest.

“It’s time for the Labour government to get a deep and meaningful trade deal with the US that removes these tariffs and delivers growth without compromising on standards.”

The Tory leader says they won’t make the US wealthier either and urges the US President to learn from his predecessor Ronald Reagan.

Grant Shapps accused Donald Trump of taking the US and the rest of the world “backwards” by imposing a wave of tariffs on foreign imports.

The former Tory defence secretary said the US president was adopting a “19th century trade policy” and compared it to swapping a modern mobile phone in favour of telegraph.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy sought to reassure MPs the creative industries would not be negatively impacted by a potential trade deal with the US, ahead of tariff negotiations with Donald Trump.

This came in response to Conservative former minister Sir John Whittingdale, who said: “The Secretary of State will be aware of suggestions that the Government may offer concessions around AI (artificial intelligence) regulation in a deal to reduce US tariffs.

“Can she assure the creative and the news media sectors that any negotiations will not include an offer to weaken our copyright framework, which would be opposed by creative industries both in the UK and in the US?”

Responding during culture, media and sport questions, Ms Nandy said: “Our creatives are second to none in the world.

“Our copyright framework is an essential part of their success. We’ve been clear, if it doesn’t work for creatives, then it doesn’t work for us, and we won’t do it.

“The Prime Minister has been clear in terms of negotiations with the United States that this is the start of the process, but we will always work in the national interest and we’re considering all steps as we look to the future.”

Shadow Home Secretary tells Sky News lower tariffs are a Brexit benefit.

But he urges Labour to forge a new trade deal with the US.

Online safety experts have warned that watering down the Online Safety Act to appease tech giants and help secure a trade deal with the US would be a “sell out of children’s safety”.

There have been reports that the Government has drafted a trade agreement with the US that includes a commitment to review online safety laws for US-based social media giants in exchange for exemptions for the UK from US President Donald Trump’s incoming tariffs.

It has also been reported that the UK would review the digital services tax – a 2% levy on big tech firms that brings in around £800 million a year – in order to help negotiations.

Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said the charity had written to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to warn of the “dire consequences” of reducing online safety duties on big tech platforms.

The Molly Rose Foundation was founded by the friends and family of Molly Russell, who ended her life aged 14, in November 2017, after viewing suicide and self-harm content on social media.

“We are dismayed and appalled by reports that the Online Safety Act could be watered down to facilitate a US trade deal,” Mr Burrows said.

“We have written to Jonathan Reynolds urging him not to continue with an appalling sell out of children’s safety and to meet with lived experience campaigners to understand the dire consequences.

“At a time when online safety laws require strengthening it leaves us questioning how many young lives are we prepared to lose to dodge Trump’s tariffs?”

An SNP official has claimed the Taliban has claimed a better deal with the US than Sir Keir Starmer.

The White House said Afghanistan charges 49 per cent tariffs on the US but is being charged the same reciprocal tariff as the UK — 10 per cent. The official was speaking to Politico.

Senior Conservative MP Chris Philp has warned that jobs will be lost due to Donald Trump’s tariffs and said the UK has not had any “special treatment”.

He was asked if the UK had “got off quite lightly” with 10% tariffs slapped on imports to the US – half that imposed on the EU.

“No, I wouldn’t say that. Dozens and dozens of countries have the same 10% tariffs on all goods and 25% on cars, just the same as us – from Costa Rica to Colombia, from Peru to Paraguay,” the shadow home secretary told LBC.

“So we’re not getting any special deal or special treatment.

“These tariffs are based on essentially reciprocation of what America thinks they’re being charged by other countries.

“This is really bad for our economy. It’s going to put jobs and growth at risk.”

He said the automotive sector is “hugely at risk” with the 25% tariffs on imports to the US of foreign cars and said the industry was already “reeling” from Labour’s policy on electric cars as well as being hit by “Ed Miliband’s crazy energy policy”.

The Business Secretary has said the 10% tariff on US imports of UK goods will not come on top of the 25% imposed on all foreign cars imported to the US.

“As we understand it, those tariffs are not additive,” Jonathan Reynolds told BBC Breakfast.

Tariffs on cars are a “real issue” and there is “no need” for them, he said.

“The impact on the automotive sector of that particular tariff is one of our principal concerns.

“People will know companies, great British brands, JLR, BMW, Aston Martin, have substantial exports to the US, and that’s a real issue.

“Now, we need first of all to make sure we’ve got this negotiation to try and remove those tariffs. There’s no need for them, in my view.”

The tariffs the UK has in place on US goods is “about 4%” but the US is “adding in other policy issues to that equation”, he said.

Asked by Nick Ferrari on LBC if up to 25,000 jobs in the motor industry could go following the tariffs, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “I know everyone in the automotive sector in particular will have those concerns.

“The products that we have, in the main, are very successful at exporting to the US, from Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, Aston Martin, these are often the higher value parts of the market, so the impact of tariffs will be slightly different to those.

“What I am committed to – and what I genuinely believe we can deliver – is a position where not only are we not in a position where we’ve got to think about job losses or about the loss of exports, but we can strengthen that relationship. That is what we’re committed to doing.”

“Progress is possible” for a trade deal to still be agreed between the UK and US after the introduction of tariffs, the Business Secretary has said.

Jonathan Reynolds told Nick Ferrari on LBC that the Government had “been able to progress talks in a range of areas” with its US counterparts.

He said: “We have, I believe, the prospect of a really significant and interesting and relevant set of agreements that we can put in place to do that.

“Now, the warmth on the US side has been there. I’m not happy, I’m disappointed with the decisions that have been taken, but I can’t fault the engagement and the good faith from our counterparts on the US side.”

Mr Reynolds said US President Donald Trump had been committed to imposing tariffs “for decades, well before he was a politician”, but added: “We’ve engaged in good faith with them and I do believe progress is possible.”

Sir Keir addressed business chiefs including AstraZeneca’s Pascal Soriot, BAE’s Charles Woodburn and Jaguar Land Rover’s Richard Molyneux.

He said that as the Government moved “to the next stage of our plan”, the “decisions we take in coming days and weeks will be guided only by our national interest, in the interests of our economy, in the interests of businesses around this table”.

“Clearly, there will be an economic impact from the decisions the US has taken, both here and globally.

“But I want to be crystal clear: we are prepared, indeed one of the great strengths of this nation is our ability to keep a cool head.”

He said he would “fight” to secure a deal with the US in the hope of mitigating the impact of the tariffs and that “nobody wins in a trade war”.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has admitted he is “disappointed” Donald Trump has slapped tariffs on the UK.

He told LBC: “No country in the world has been exempted from the initial decisions, and that’s a decision that the President clearly wanted to take.

“We have, I believe, the prospect of a really significant and interesting and relevant set of agreements that we could put in place to do that.

“Now, the warmth on the US side has been there.

“You know, I’m not happy. I’m disappointed with the decisions that have been taken, but I can’t fault the engagement and the good faith from our counterparts on the US side, from the Commerce Secretary, from the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer.

“So look, I believe we’ve got the basis to do that. Some of this is down to the US. I mean, they’re the driving force behind these decisions.

“This is something the President has been committed to, to be frank, for decades, well before he was a politician in the US. So we knew this was part of it.

“We’ve engaged in good faith with them, and I do believe progress is possible.”

The Business Secretary has said he is working to get the 10% US tariffs reversed rather than securing an economic deal to offset them.

Jonathan Reynolds was asked if he was hoping to do a deal to compensate for the tariffs with economic gain.

“No, I want those tariffs removed. I want them removed in terms of the 10% that’s been announced. I want them removed on steel and aluminium,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He added: “I want not only to remove what has been announced so far, but to strengthen that relationship.”

He said it was not accurate to say a deal was ready but has not yet reached Donald Trump’s desk and that there are “issues still to resolve”.

Asked if his strategy was to “keep calm and carry on negotiating”, he said: “It’s keep calm and remain working very hard to get the best for the UK.”