Starmer says Labor is doing something 'very wrong' after bruising defeat in former Boris seat

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Keir Starmer turned fire on parts of his own party on Saturday as he sought to keep Labor on course for Number 10.

Addressing the forum which will help set the agenda for his party's manifesto, the Labor leader warned against giving the Tories ammunition in the upcoming election.

He framed Friday's bruising by-election defeat in Boris Johnson's former seat as a cautionary tale, warning the party to 'face up' and 'learn a lesson' from the defeat. 'We are doing something very wrong' when a Labor policy was about 'every Tory tract', he said.

Addressing Labour's National Policy Forum in Nottingham, which brings together members and affiliated groups to discuss the upcoming manifesto, Sir Keir said: 'We have to seriously ask ourselves: are our priorities workers' priorities or are they just baggage that shows them that we don't see the country through their eyes?'

Sources said Starmer warned in his speech that the forum should reflect the needs of the public.

The Tories held Uxbridge in west London focusing on Labor Mayor Sadiq Khan's much-hated plans to charge motorists with dirtier cars. A source close to Sadiq Khan said he was "listening" and "always looking for ways" to address concerns.

But Starmer warned his party that the result shows "political questions" when it comes to the election.

Later in Bedfordshire, where a by-election is due soon in the seat of Nadine Dorries, Starmer said the party would not alter its controversial plans to keep the benefit cap for two children, which sparked a mutiny among Labor MPs last week.

Starmer told broadcasters: spending commitments , so we proceed on this basis. And that's why we're not going to change our policy on the two-child benefit cap. But we have to recognize that this is because of the damage the Conservatives have done to our economy.

Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak faces calls from within...