Sir Keir Starmer has admitted Boris Johnson was “right” to propose levelling up but said he was “frustrated” by the former prime minister’s “unforgivable” failure to deliver.

The Labour leader also claimed the policy, which defined Mr Johnson’s premiership, was “strangled at birth” by his successor, Rishi Sunak.

Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby at the launch of Labour’s local election campaign in Dudley, Sir Keir said “the idea” of levelling up that was put before the electorate in 2019 by Mr Johnson was “right”.

But he added: “What that requires – and this is where I get frustrated – is if you really believe that… I’m afraid you’ve got to roll your sleeves up, you’ve got to put a plan on the table, you go the hard yards.

“And so what is unforgivable about Boris Johnson is, having made that the focus, he didn’t do the hard yards of delivery and that’s why people feel even more let down.”

Politics latest: Starmer asked if he’s a ‘Tory in disguise’ – as he accuses Rishi Sunak of ‘bottling’ election

The Labour leader was equally critical of Mr Sunak, whom he said had “strangled levelling up at birth because he wouldn’t put the funding behind it – and we know what the consequences are.”

However, despite criticising the Conservatives for their failure to put money behind the policy, Sir Keir refused to commit any new funding to local councils, which are straddling an estimated funding gap of £4bn over the next two years.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

He told Rigby his party “can’t turn on the spending taps” for cash-strapped local authorities but that funding settlements could be made longer to provide more stability.

“If we stabilise the economy, that will reduce inflation,” he said. “That’s been a big drag for councils.”

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Another change Sir Keir put forward to help councils was a ban on no-fault evictions, which he said added to the “strain” on councils which then have to find alternative accommodation.

The ban on no-fault evictions is one of a number of measures that have been held up in the long-delayed Renters Reform Bill, which Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, has been accused of watering down to appease sceptical backbenchers.

Elsewhere in the interview Sir Kei reiterated his support for Ms Rayner over allegations she failed to pay capital gains tax when she sold her house in 2015.

Asked whether he had seen the legal advice she has claimed exonerates her, the Labour leader said: “No, there’s no need to – it’s not appropriate for me to do so.”

Pressed on whether he was concerned to defend her when he hadn’t seen the advice himself – and whether this could “come back to bite you”, he replied: “No. I have faith in Angela Rayners answers.

“I know she’s taken legal advice. My team has looked at it. Her team’s looked at it. There is no need for me personally to look at it, nor is it appropriate to do so.

“But I do think standing back, it’s a sign of how desperate the Tories have got, that they want to make this the issue in a local election, which should be about their failure in delivery.”

Read more:
Rayner will not publish ‘personal tax advice’ over house sale
How Tory MPs could oust PM – and who could replace him

Mr Gove said the Labour leader “couldn’t be more wrong” with his assessment of the government’s record.

“We are the party that’s been leading on levelling up for years now,” he said.

“The areas of the country in the Midlands and the North that Labour neglected for decades have had an infusion of cash and a power surge thanks to this Conservative government.

“We’re the people who’ve given power to mayors in the Tees Valley and in the West Midlands, who’ve had a decisive impact on raising wages, levering in investment, empowering local communities.

“Labour are late to this game and also they come with nothing new to say. No new money, no new powers, no plan at all.”

Related posts:

NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens stays tight-lipped when asked whether Matt Hancock is ‘hopeless’ Senior Tory MP calls for face-to-face meetings with constituents to be paused in wake of Amess killing Terror suspect accused of killing MP is son of former top aide to Somali PM Remaining COVID restrictions in England will be scrapped on Thursday and free testing to end in April Five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals targeted in UK sanctions on Russia Sunak under fire for claiming he worked to divert money from ‘deprived urban areas’ when chancellor Corbyn to be blocked from standing as Labour MP at next election, Starmer to confirm Labour unveils five-point plan for mortgage crisis – but PM says beating inflation must come first Tory MP faces six-week Commons suspension for bullying and sexual misconduct More than half of people do not trust NHS to deliver timely cancer treatment – poll Barrister ‘crisis’ sees average wait for rape victims exceed five years House of Lords urged to help ‘end the torture’ of indefinite IPP sentences