Key union leaders will tell Sir Keir Starmer he must resign if Labour does poorly at this year’s local elections.

Head of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Steve Wright said Labour’s 11 affiliated trade unions could unite and call for the Prime Minister to resign as Labour leader if he failed to show the party was “delivering” in the coming months.

While Mr Wright insisted he did not want to see a “revolving door” at Downing Street, he added: “I want to see this Labour government deliver.”

He told The Times: “I don’t really care who does it, I’ll be honest…There is a benefit to keeping someone in position as long as they’re delivering and listening. There’s hope. We’ll see what happens in May, won’t we?”

When pressed on if all 11 affiliated trade unions could come together and tell Sir Keir it was time for him to go if the May elections were a disaster for Labour, Mr Wright replied: “I think so.”

It is the latest attack on the Prime Minister as he continues to come under fire after Labour’s ruling national executive council took the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing at the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

The party claimed he was blocked due to the cost of holding a mayoral by-election to replace him, which would be well over £1million.

Mr Burnham told the BBC: “I would have pointed out to them I’ve never had any support from the party in the three mayoral elections I’ve fought, so the Greater Manchester mayoral election has never been a great expense.

“I’ve never had support in fighting it.”

When asked if he had spoken with Sir Keir, Mr Burnham said: “We had a conversation on Monday. It was a fair exchange, we both said how we felt and I was glad to have that conversation and a chance to say how I felt.

“But I would have preferred to speak in advance of the decision to assure him of what I was trying to do. I think it could have created a more positive path for everybody, including the Prime Minister and the Government.”

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Tories accuse Labour of driving up private rental prices

The Conservatives have accused the Government of driving up private rental prices, as figures showed they increased by seven per cent in England.

Average private rental prices across English local authorities rose by 6.9 per cent between July 2024 and September 2025, according to data collated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In cash terms, they rose by £91 a month.

The statistics, measuring the average price for rental properties down to a local authority level, suggest the most dramatic price change was in Camden – Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s local council.

In Camden, private renters saw prices soar by £272, or 10.8 per cent over the 14 months.

The areas with the next steepest price changes were Lambeth (£254), Richmond upon Thames (£235), Oxford (£230), and Broxbourne (£215).

Sir James Cleverly: “Labour’s policies are increasing the cost of living, including by driving up rents. In Keir Starmer’s own backyard, rental prices are soaring by more than anywhere else in England.

“Labour’s red tape and tax hikes are driving landlords from the market, reducing choice for tenants and forcing them to fight ever harder to find somewhere to live.

“Meanwhile tenants are facing higher and higher council tax bills. Only the Conservatives will ensure a fair deal for tenants and for landlords.”

A source from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “The Tories trying to score points on housing is laughable. They failed for 14 years in every area, building private homes, protecting renters, improving and building social housing and they know it.

“We are sorting out their mess by reforming the planning system, investing in social and affordable housing and giving renters historic protections against unfair rent rises and no fault evictions.”

Here’s whats happening today 

Good morning, and happy Friday from all of us on the GB News Politics team. Here’s what’s happening today in Westminster and beyond:

The Prime Minister touched down earlier this morning in a very drizzly Shanghai as his China visit continues.

President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer over the Prime Minister’s decision to visit China in a bid to reset relations with Beijing.

When asked by a reporter to comment on Sir Keir’s trip, President Trump said it was “very dangerous for them to do that.” Our reporter Dan McDonald has the full story.

While our Political Editor Chris Hope is taking on table tennis champions in Beijing, Katherine Forster has stepped in for this week’s Chopper’s Political Podcast where she’s joined by Labour MP for Mansfield Steve Yemm.

Mr Yemm, who has represented the Nottinghamshire seat since 2024, has called on Downing Street “to take stronger action” to tackle the migrant crisis, suggesting Sir Keir takes lessons from President Trump. You can watch the full episode here.

Our Senior Political Correspondent Nigel Nelson has taken a deep dive into an unlikely political alliance as he suggested Nigel Farage is “upending British politics in a way never before seen in our lifetime”. Friends of GB News can read Nigel’s full analysis here.

Zack Polanski’s Green Party will officially announce their candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election at 11 am, as the third party to officially confirm who will be standing, following Reform UK’s Matthew Goodwin and the SDP’s Sebastian Moore.

Here on GB News, we’ll be joined this morning by Shadow National Security Minister Alicia Kearns and Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant.