Labour mayor's furious message to Keir Starmer as she narrowly beats Reform

A Labour Mayor who narrowly held on after a strong challenge from Reform has delivered a scathing message to .

Ros Jones, the mayor of Doncaster, won with a majority of just 698 over Reform UK candidate Alexander Jones. She warned that the Prime Minister "needs to listen" to voters.

Ms Jones lashed out over decisions to slash winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, as well as cutting access to disability benefits and hiking National Insurance on businesses.

Following her victory she told the : "I think national government needs to look and see what people are saying." She continued: "I wrote as soon as the winter fuel allowance was actually mooted, and I said it was wrong, and therefore I stepped in immediately and used our household support fund to ensure no-one in Doncaster went cold during the winter."

Ms Jones continued: "I think the results here tonight demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street and actually deliver for the people, with the people."

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Pressed whether Mr Starmer had been listening she said: "On certainly two or three occasions, I would say no they haven't actually realised because people in Doncaster know how life can be.

"They need to look again because actually putting up the cost of national insurance is hitting some of our business. And of course, PIP (Personal Independence Payments), which we know many people are worried about."

Ms Jones has been the mayor of Doncaster since 2013 and has now been re-elected for a fourth term in office. Her remarks piled pressure on the Prime Minister and were immediately seized on by the Tories.

A spokesman claimed "serious questions" were being asked about Sir Keir Starmer's leadership after Doncaster mayor Ros Jones' criticism. He said: "Ros Jones has barely been re-elected as mayor of Doncaster - and her first move? Publicly tearing into Keir Starmer's failing government.

"When even Labour's own elected mayors are slamming Starmer's cruel policies - like snatching winter fuel payments from vulnerable pensioners and hammering families with a £3,500 jobs tax - you know the country is heading in the wrong direction.

"Starmer promised change, but Britain isn't buying it. His own party isn't either. Serious questions are now being asked about Starmer's leadership."

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