Keir Starmer faces 8 major headaches straight after Easter break

Keir Starmer has a long to-do list waiting for him as Parliament returns from Easter recess tomorrow.

The Prime Minister went on holiday to recharge for a "few days" over the break after an unpredictable few months since returned to the White House. Even getting a way for a short break proved difficult, with the PM delaying his trip to try .

The PM will return to a concoction of domestic and international issues, from the continuing battle to save British Steel and the small boats crisis, to the war in and Donald Trump's tariffs.

MPs will be flocking back to Westminster in the week before local elections, so expect some political mudslinging to welcome Parliament back. Mr Starmer will be steering the ship as leader through the local elections, as well as a key by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, where Mr Farage is looking to cause an upset.

Here we take a look at the challenges and flashpoints for Mr Starmer as he returns from the Easter break.

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1. Local elections

Local elections on May 1 will be a huge test for all political parties. Around 1,600 council seats are up for grabs across 23 authorities in the first major vote since last year's .

Kemi Badenoch's Tories face losing hundreds of council seats to Reform UK and the in next week's local elections, the Professor have the "most to lose" after huge wins at the 2021 locals when was at the height of his popularity.

will be hoping to pick up many seats that could be lost by the Tories - especially in areas like Derbyshire, where it has previously had control. But local elections are typically more difficult for the party in power as voters sometimes use the local polling day to give their verdict on the national picture.

Equally Mr Starmer is also battling the new threat of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. With Labour, the Tories and Reform almost tied in the national polls, Mr Farage will be hoping to make a big statement on May 1. Sir John said Reform UK could steal hundreds of seats from the Conservatives, even if they are mostly on narrow majorities.

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2. Runcorn by-election

On the same day as the local elections, Labour will be on the defensive in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in Cheshire with Mr Farage's party hoping for a major upset. Despite being a Labour stronghold for decades, Reform UK is hoping the party can defy expectations and deliver its first-ever by-election victory.

Reform came second in the area in the general election, winning 18.1% of the vote - far from Labour’s 52.9% share. But by-elections - which typically have a low turnout - can be unpredictable and reflect the mood of those who are actively wanting to have their voices heard at the ballot box.

When , Labour's candidate for the by-election Karen Shore admitted it is a race between the two parties and referred to ’s party as the “opposition”. She warned voters Reform UK is not "on their side at all".

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3. Supreme Court ruling

Another tricky issue for the PM to navigate is last week's landmark Supreme Court ruling on biological sex.

Top judges effectively ruled that transgender people should be viewed in law according to their sex at birth. This ruling could have far reaching implications across Government - from ward placements, prisons and laws on same-sex spaces like changing rooms.

It sparked a fierce backlash, with the trans community saying the ruling leaves them "erased" and caused anger in the Labour fold. At the weekend it emerged that two ministers, Dame Angela Eagle and Sir Chris Bryant, had voiced concerns on groups about its impact.

The judges said there are "practical difficulties" providing single-sex spaces like changing rooms, medical services and hostels without making biological sex the sole consideration. The justices wrote that laws around accessing single-sex services "can only be interpreted by reference to biological sex."

Following the decision, a UK Government spokesman said: "We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as , refuges, and sports clubs. Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this Government."

4. British Steel

The PM took the extraordinary step of recalling Parliament on a Saturday during Easter recess in order to save British Steel.

Ministers stepped in after it became clear the firm's Chinese owners Jingye would not be getting vital materials to keep the two blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe. The move saved 2,700 jobs at the plant and thousands more in the supply chain, but the long-term plan remains unclear.

While the Government hopes to secure a public sector partner, full nationalisation does look like a likely outcome. There is the additional headache of Donald Trump's 25% steel tariff - more on that below - which the Government will be keen to tackle as a priority.

5. Small boats crisis

The Prime Minister will return with criticism of the Government's handling of the small boats crisis ringing in his ears.

On Friday a man died trying to make the dangerous crossing. Meanwhile latest data shows over 9,000 people have reached the UK by small boat - 42% higher than the previous year.

The Government is focusing on trafficking gangs, but pressure is mounting on the PM to start showing results. No10 has insisted that Tory ineptitude allowed criminal groups to flourish, and pointed to better co-operation with other nations.

But with the numbers rising ahead of summer - which usually sees crossings peak - it looks like Mr Starmer is in for a tricky few months.

6. Tariffs headache

Donald Trump's disastrous tariffs continue to cause a massive headache for the PM.

The 25% levies on steel and car imports could prove disastrous, while 10% on all other goods will harm the Government's drive for growth. Before Easter the PM was forced to announce a raft of measures to help the car industry, and took the extraordinary step of taking over the management of British Steel.

Chancellor will head to Washington DC on Tuesday where she will hold make-or-break talks with her US counterpart, Scott Bessent. She is hoping to hammer out a trade deal that would give the UK some breathing space, but there are a lot of hurdles still to overcome.

Asked if the UK was prepared to walk away if red lines are crossed, Ms Reeves : "Absolutely. We're not going to do something that's not in our national interest."

7. Ukraine uncertainty

The Ukraine war has been a huge priority in the PM's in-tray since he came to power - and especially since Donald Trump returned to the White House. And Mr Starmer has been left having to keep up with the unpredictable nature of Mr Trump.

The US President overnight said he hopes and Ukraine "will make a deal this week". But it came just a day after Mr Trump had threatened to abandon peace talks “very shortly” unless a ceasefire was agreed. He has suggested that the US on peace negotiations if ending the bitter 11-year conflict proves to be too difficult.

While Mr Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been spearheading a peace plan with European leaders, the PM has consistently said peace in Ukraine cannot be assured without US backing.

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8. Hillsborough failure

The PM is under pressure after he missed his pledge to bring in a Hillsborough Law before the anniversary of the tragedy on April 15.

A lawyer who co-drafted the bill Elkan Abrahamson last week “kick it away” after officials tried to water it down. He threatened to “ramp up” their campaign if a solution is not found quickly and said he fears the campaign group have a "fight" on their hands against the Government.

It comes after Mr Starmer with Hillsborough families a few weeks ago amid fears the bill was being watered down. Last week's anniversary marked 36 years since 97 fans were killed by a crush at an semi-final between Liverpool and at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. They were found to have been unlawfully killed after gross negligence by police, who also lied and doctored evidence.

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