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- Sir Keir Starmer is visiting Carlisle this evening as he kickstarts a two day tour of Cumbria.
- The Leader of the Labour party begins a whistle-stop tour of the region at Carlisle United Football Club and will be meeting members of the board, footballer players and supporters.
- The visit is being seen as a morale boosting shot in the arm for electioneering Labour activists as they bid to capture what will be the newly formed Cumberland Council next Thursday May 5.
- Labour hasn’t captured Carlisle as a bellwether parliamentary constituency since Eric Martlew stood down in 2010. Sir Keir’s party is on a big push to ensure the new local authority will be Labour controlled.
- Cumbria’s seven existing councils have been abolished and will be replaced by two unitary authorities next year.
- Cumberland Council will exist as a shadow authority until its full transition as a fully functional council in April 1 2023.
- The Labour Leader will be speaking exclusively to the News & Star shortly. We will give you full live coverage including videos, pictures and updates
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