'A difficult inheritance'

SIR Keir Starmer said he would face a "difficult inheritance" and would need to do "tough things" if he becomes prime minister later this week.

He acknowledged that after "14 years of failure", he would not be able to "get a chequebook out on the Friday after the election" to boost funding for local services.

The Labour leader said there were no "no-go areas" for his party as he campaigned in traditional Tory seats in an effort to secure a landslide victory.

Sir Keir, who has repeatedly stressed how he had changed the Labour Party since taking over from Jeremy Corbyn, said he would continue to insist on discipline from his MPs if he became prime minister.

He was speaking during a campaign visit to the Buckingham and Bletchley seat, which would require a 12.7-point swing to win and has symbolic importance in this election.