‘He comes over as weak’: Keir Starmer fails to convince Wakefield voters

The Labour leader has not capitalised on Boris Johnson's sinking ratings ahead of a crunch byelection

Barbara Hall was enjoying a quiet morning at her senior citizens' group in Wakefield when word went round that a special guest would be attending. Hall, a retired saleswoman, watched Keir Starmer work the room. I wasn't convinced," she said. He's an awkward person, isn't he? He doesn't fit in. Boris Johnson would fit in. He would have us screaming and laughing."

Rare is the Wakefield resident who hasn't had to dodge a politician or a vox-popping reporter in recent weeks, as anticipation builds for Thursday's ballot. If the polls are right, Labour should win back the seat they lost to the Tories in 2019 - the first byelection gain for the party since Corby in 2012.