RISHI SUNAK is attempting to “hoodwink the public” by claiming to be delivering on the people’s priorities ahead of Thursday’s local elections across England, Labour leftwinger Richard Burgon has charged.

The Leeds East MP accused the Tory Prime Minister of grandstanding while his government oversees the “biggest attack on living standards in recent memory.”

Mr Burgon spoke as party leaders made their final pitch to voters before the voting, which will choose 8,000 councillors in 230 local authorities and four local mayors. 

The elections, largely taking place in rural areas where the Tories won or held many councils in the May 2019 polls, will be closely watched to see whether Labour can capitalise on the party’s double-digit lead in national polls ahead of a probable general election next year.

During a fiery Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today, Mr Sunak said: “We have an important day tomorrow and the choice before the country is clear.

“When people go to the ballot box, they can see a [Labour] party which stands for higher council tax, higher crime and a litany of broken promises.

“Meanwhile, we’re getting on with delivering what we say, with lower council tax, lower crime and fewer potholes.” 

But Mr Burgon dismissed the claims, telling the Morning Star: “Rishi Sunak is trying to hoodwink the public yet again.

“It’s clear that people are fed up to the back teeth with a Tory government that’s overseen the biggest attack on living standards in living memory and never seems happier than when attacking workers fighting for fair pay or seeking to divide our communities.

“These elections are a chance to send a strong message from communities across the country down to the Tory government in Westminster — people have had enough and it’s time for the Tories to go.” 

Several MPs used PMQs to highlight how national issues, such as water pollution by privatised water firms or a shortage of NHS dentists due to austerity spending cuts, are affecting their local area.  

Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham Munira Wilson said that one of her constituents, “after a recent dip in the Thames, found himself hospitalised with cellulitis for 13 days due to polluted water.”

Labour’s Mary Kelly Foy told of a constituent who was unable to see an NHS dentist being “forced to go private, where he discovered he had a large, aggressive tumour.”