Starmer and Sunak set to launch 2024 election bids with pleas to fed-up voters

Sir Keir Starmer will urge voters to reject “pointless populist gestures” as he kicks off the likely election year with a speech seeking to draw dividing lines with Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party.

In a visit to the West of England, the Labour leader will claim the Tories have “no practical achievements to point towards” after nearly 14 years in government.

With 2024 expected to be the year the Prime Minister calls the next general election, Mr Sunak will also take to the road on Thursday, with a rival new year stump speech planned in the East Midlands.

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