SIR KEIR STARMER claimed that the local elections being held tomorrow will be a verdict on Kemi Badenoch’s leadership of the Tory Party.

Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister pretended that voters would not also be passing judgment on his government in the polls, which include four metro mayoralties, 23 local authorities and a parliamentary by-election in the Cheshire seat of Runcorn and Helsby.

“Tomorrow is the first opportunity the country has to pass their verdict on the leader of the opposition [since the general election],” Sir Keir told MPs.  

“Have they changed? Have they learned? They’re passing verdict [on Badenoch].”

The truth is that Labour and the Tories are both are terrified by the rise of the hard-right Reform party, whose leader Nigel Farage renewed his signature anti-migrant rhetoric during Prime Minister’s Questions.

Polling indicates that Reform may win Runcorn, Labour’s 16th safest Commons seat, as well as two of the metro mayor posts, and sweep Labour from local office in Doncaster and Durham.

The threat to the Tories is still more existential, with Mr Farage aiming to replace Ms Badenoch’s party as the leading force on the right of politics.  

Most surveys show Reform drawing more support from former Conservatives than from ex-Labour voters.

Both governing parties are fighting on more than one flank, with the Liberal Democrats looking to take advantage of Ms Badenoch’s “culture war” extremism to consolidate their hold on much of southern England.

Labour is also faces a growing threat from the Greens, who may seize the metro mayor job in the West of England.