'PUT A SOCK IN IT'

Powell's stark warning to those whispering about PM future as voté looms

- BY ASHLEY COWBURN

LUCY Powell has warned those fuelling speculation about Keir Starmer's leadership to pipe down as Labour heads towards critical local elections in May.

The party's deputy leader said she believed the polls will tighten - but the party must be up for the fight in 2026.

Labour faces a potentially bruising set of votes across England, Scotland and Wales in just over four months' time.

Some Labour MPs are even whispering about the Prime Minister's future if the party suffers a disaster at the ballot box.

Ms Powell said: "I'm not getting into that because my focus is on making sure we do what we need to do, to do better than we are currently projected to do in May.