Watch: We meet Labour MPs at local election campaign launch as West Midlands is key battleground

The Labour Party are today launching their local elections campaign here in Dudley. Keir Starmer's focus is to tackle regional inequality and boost growth. Will the recent financial fiasco at Birmingham City Council hinder Labours chances at the polling station?

Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, said: “Well, local authorities of all different political colours have been in financial trouble in recent months. So, when you've got a situation where councils of all political stripes are in trouble, the question isn't the political management of one city, the question becomes what's happening with local government as a whole.

"And the truth is, when Labour was in power, we didn't have councils going bankrupt like this. Now we've got a whole list of them, either in Birmingham's position or very close to it.”

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer launched the party's local elections campaign, with a strong focus on economic security, regional inequality, and promises of devolution of power and new jobs. Starmer accused the Conservative Party of "preying on the hopes" of working people by failing to deliver on promises to level up the country.

Starmer laid out the party's five missions, including unblocking the planning system, ensuring safer streets with more police, lowering bills through clean British power, offering more support for young people and skills training, and getting the NHS "back on its feet."

Starmer also addressed the issue of council funding, agreeing that there is a crisis and stating that there is "scope for different kinds of funding settlements."

The launch comes five weeks before the West Midlands Mayoral elections and Police and Crime Commissioners elections in Birmingham on Thursday, May 2. Incumbent Mayor Andy Street is standing against Labour's Richard Parker, the Liberal Democrat's Sunny Virk, the Green Party's Siobhan Harper-Nunes and Elaine Williams for Reform UK. There are no full council elections in Birmingham this year - they are now held every four years, with the next one being due in 2026. However due to the resignation of Councillor Brigid Jones, there is now a vacancy in the Bournbrook and Selly Park ward. A by election to fill this vacancy is also being held on Thursday, May 2. 

With the West Midlands being a key battleground for both Labour and the Tories, with the region facing severe economic and social challenges, the question remains: what precise, concrete plans does Labour have in store for the West Midlands, and can they deliver on their promises?

Pat McFadden said: “Well, we've got Richard Parker running as our candidate for West Midlands mayor. He's got an exciting plan to get the economy moving and from my own personal point of view as a black country MP, to make a priority of the Black Country, which he feels, and I agree with him, has been somewhat ignored by the incumbent mayor.”

The Labour Party are hopeful to build confidence among voters here in the West Midlands following the fall out from the city council's financial crisis. Whether or not their promises will carry weight with the electorate should be seen by over the next couple of months.

Pat McFadden said: “I am optimistic. I think we've come a long way in the Labour Party in recent years. These elections give voters an opportunity to elect good Labour councils or Labour mayors and I very much hope we'll have a Labour mayor here in the West Midlands after these elections.

"But they also offer something else, which is an opportunity to send a strong signal to Rishi Sunak that the country wants change and to get on and call the general election that can bring about that change.”