"IT IS time for change".

Those are the words from the man who pollsters are tipping as favourite to become the country's next Prime Minister when the general election takes place later this year.

Sir Keir Starmer paid a visit to Tilehurst in Reading on Friday to outline his plans to tackle anti-social behaviour as the Reading Chronicle was invited to interview him.

One of the main topics on the agenda is Labour's expected victory which will see the party picking up seats in Earley and Woodley and the newly-designed constituency Reading West and Mid Berkshire, which encompasses Tilehurst. 

Despite election forecasts which predict a 120-seat landslide victory for the Labour Party, Sir Keir appeared cautious. He said: "I think there is a general mood that it is time for change. And that is vitally important that we change because there's this general sense that nothing is really working.

"Everybody knows that the Tories have failed. We've changed the Labour Party. And now what I want is to say we can now change the country for the better.

"So this is the year where hope and change can come together and that we can pull together as a nation and move forward instead of being constantly stuck in this decline."

No date has been set for the general election yet but current prime minister Rishi Sunak has previously said he expects it will take place in the "second half" of this year.

Some of the biggest issues cropping up on the doorstep according to local politicians is the cost-of-living crisis.

Economists have described Britain as a 'stagnated nation'. The London School of Economics noting in a report published in December: "Britain’s slow growth, together with its high inequality (the highest of any large European economy), has proved a toxic combination for low-and-middle income Britain.

"Poor households in Britain are now £4,300 worse-off than their French and German counterparts, leaving them struggling to cope when the cost-of-living crisis struck."

Labour says it has a five-point plan to get Britain back into growth - promising to build 1.5million new homes and creating new technical colleges to skill up the workforce of tomorrow. The Conservatives said Labour will bring "economic disaster" for Britain.

In an era of disinformation online and fake news, Sir Keir said local newspapers are "really important". He said: "I think that holding sort of local representatives to account matters, I think local communities want to see their local community, their local paper covering issues that matter to them.

"I also think that in an age when people don't trust politics, there's a huge trust in your local paper."

Sir Keir said his message to residents and readers of the Chronicle is this - "hope and future".

A date for the next general election is yet to be set but the current prime minister Rishi Sunak previously said it would take place in the second half of this year. 

Olivia Bailey has been selected Labour's candidate for Reading West and Mid Berkshire. The Conservatives are yet to announce the candidate who will be replacing Alok Sharma.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have chosen Helen Belcher, while Carolyne Culver will be standing for the Green Party, and Adrian Abbs as an independent.