Labour leader Keir Starmer will use an event in Essex to tell voters the first steps he would take if his party wins the election, expected this year.

The steps include setting up a border security command to tackle the criminal gangs behind small boats crossings and recruiting 6,500 teachers.

Speaking ahead of the event, Sir Keir said the pledges were a “down payment on change”.

Tory chair Richard Holden said they did not “amount to a hill of beans”.

The Conservative added that while the Labour leader was on his “sixteenth relaunch”, his party were “sticking to the plan which is working to strengthen the economy – with inflation down from 11.1% to 3.2% and £900 back in hard-working people’s pockets – and a fair immigration system with boat crossings down”.