SIR KEIR STARMER will today call on the government to “put families first” during the ongoing third coronavirus lockdown by reversing cuts to benefits and a planned rise to council tax.

The Labour leader’s first speech of the year sets out the party’s priorities for the months ahead, in which he will outline proposals to stop a planned cut in universal credit for six million families, halt a planned council tax rise and give key workers a pay increase.

PM Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are allowing councils and mayors to increase council tax by up to 5 per cent from April, saying that it would pay for extra support for local services.