Politics LIVE: Nigel Farage hosts massive rally as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer

Nigel Farage is capitalising on Parliament's recess by hosting a rally this evening in Romford. Reform UK's leader will join the local MP Andrew Rosindell, who defected from the Tories to Reform last month, and the Party's London Mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham at the 6pm event.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer reels from one of the worst weeks of his career. He has insisted he will lead Labour into the next general election but admitted that appointing Lord Peter Mandelson ambassador to Washington DC was a "mistake". The Prime Minister's authority has been rocked in recent weeks by the controversies surrounding the appointments of Lord Mandelson and Lord Matthew Doyle despite their association with sex offenders, three departures from Downing Street, and a call from the Scottish Labour leader for him to resign.

The government was also forced to announce one of its most humiliating u-turns yet today, revealing it has given into Reform's legal challenge on the decision to scrap 30 council elections this may for nearly 5 million voters. Expect Farage to go big on this tonight.

Sir Keir came out fighting against suggestions he should resign, and reports of plots within Labour to oust him. He said: "I won the leadership of the Labour Party when people said I wouldn't. I changed the Labour Party when people said I couldn't. I won an election when people said we wouldn't. And now I intend to change the country - whatever other people say."

Sir Keir then insisted he would "absolutely" lead the Labour Party into the next election.

FOLLOW THIS LIVE BLOG FOR UPDATES

Visit express.co.uk for live updates.