Sir Keir Starmer is kicking off a multi-million-pound "mission critical" campaign to halt a Reform UK-led Labour "wipeout" in the party's traditional heartlands.
Both No10 and Angela Rayner's Ministry of Housing have compiled a "plan for neighbourhoods" in communities in Reform-voting regions across the Red Wall, which is set to invest in regenerating council estates and public spaces in a bid to stave off "visible decline".
The campaign is based on the findings of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon), which has warned that some 600 areas in England are lagging behind Labour's five "missions" for power.
A series of Red Wall Labour MPs have put their weight behind the plans, and have all issued warnings over the growing threat of Reform as a driving factor in getting them over the line.
A series of Red Wall MPs have issued warnings over the growing threat of Nigel Farage's Reform UK
PA
"What we saw in Runcorn is a reminder that shifts in support across the Red Wall are possible. Visible decline is pushing people towards alternatives like Reform," Leigh & Atherton MP Jo Platt told The Times.
Rother Valley MP Jake Richards added: "Governments of different colours have not done enough, and now social and economic decay is driving voters to Farage.
"We need a major investment programme in deprived neighbourhoods to get tough on the causes of Reform."
And North Durham's Luke Akehurst warned: "To avoid further electoral wipeouts, we need to make tangible changes in communities ahead of the General Election."
LATEST AS LABOUR BATTLES REFORM UK:
'Social and economic decay is driving voters to Farage,' Rother Valley MP Jake Richards said
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Akehurst later issued another General Election warning on social media - one which condemned the Conservatives as the Opposition.
"Rather than a five-party fight, I think next General Election could see a polarised two-party race between Labour and Reform, with the two parties taking a very high vote share between them due to widespread tactical voting," he said.
"It would mean Labour gets more votes than in 2024."
A Government source said Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner would have to wait for the spending review before rolling out the funding
PAA Government source, reacting to news of the "mission critical" campaign to invest in the Red Wall, steered clear of a direct mention of Reform UK.
"The Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister have been clear that the spending review will need to support the delivery of the Government's plan for a decade of national renewal and raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom," the source said.
They added that No10 "welcomed Icon's valuable work to identify and understand the persistent challenges that exist in many parts of the country".
