Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited Wolverhampton on Monday, 30 March 2026, to launch the national Labour Party campaign for the upcoming local elections. The event was held at City College, a new £61 million learning quarter facility, where the Prime Minister was joined by senior cabinet members and local leaders to rally support ahead of the vote on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
The local elections will see residents across the country head to the polls to decide on council representation. More than 4,851 council seats are being contested across 134 English councils. In the West Midlands, all seven councils have elections this year, including four currently led by Labour and three led by the Conservatives. While the party is defending over 2,500 seats nationwide and facing predictions of heavy losses in several regions, Wolverhampton is considered one of Labour’s safest councils in the West Midlands. In this area, only a third of the seats are being contested this year.
During the launch, the Prime Minister highlighted the party’s new campaign slogan, Pride in Britain, and discussed national policy priorities. Sir Keir Starmer pointed to several government measures aimed at the cost of living, including an upcoming reduction in energy bills of approximately £100, increases to the minimum wage for those over 21, and expanded free childcare. Addressing the geopolitical climate, he also stated that the UK would not be drawn into the conflict involving Iran, describing the situation as not our war.
The campaign launch brought together prominent government figures including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and local Wolverhampton MP Pat McFadden. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell were also in attendance to support the party’s platform for the May elections.
As the campaign season begins, voters in many areas are weighing the direction of their local councils. The Wolverhampton City Council elections represent one part of a broader contest that includes significant challenges for the party in other nearby areas, such as Birmingham, where all 101 seats are up for election following recent municipal difficulties.
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