Don’t lurch right after Reform election win, former Labour minister warns PM

Exclusive: Louise Haigh urges Starmer to pick some battles' with the right to demonstrate to voters party is on their side

Louise Haigh has urged Keir Starmer to avoid a simplistic and naive" response by lurching to the right after Reform UK's success in the local elections, in her first interview since being in effect sacked as transport secretary.

The former cabinet minister warned the prime minister to pick some battles" with the right as it would not be enough to ask progressive-minded voters to back Labour at the next election just to keep Nigel Farage out of power.