Labour has mountain to climb in General Election: Tom Watson

Labour lost more than 300 seats on councils around the country and tasted defeat in four out of six metro mayor elections, including in the West Midlands.

Describing the results as 'a very sad day' for the party, Labour's deputy leader Mr Watson insisted that 'common sense politics' put forward by candidates on a local level would appeal to voters in the Black Country.

And he sparked a potential clash with Jeremy Corbyn by insisting Labour must 'make clear' its support for Trident and NATO in its General Election manifesto.

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It comes as leading party figures prepare for a crunch meeting on Thursday to finalise the party's manifesto, which is set to be unveiled next week.

Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star, Mr Watson said: "There was a mixed picture around the country in the local elections, but overall there is no way the results can be described as a victory.

"It's not great news for Labour and it is clear that we have a mountain to climb.

"When you look at the polls I acknowledge that it is going to be very difficult for us in the General Election, but we just have to do all we can to succeed.

"In this area we have some of the hardest working MPs in Westminster.

"For them it is a case of putting forward Black Country common sense politics.

"The signs are not good, but the results in one election do not predict what happens in the next."

Mr Watson is preparing to defend the West Bromwich East seat he held with a majority of 9,470 from 2015.

He is among a number of leading Labour figures who have been pitching ideas to policy boffins ahead of this week's manifesto meeting.

The party has already pledged not to raise income tax for those earning less than £80,000-a-year.

There will also be no rise in VAT, while a series of spending commitments includes a pay rise of more than one per cent for NHS staff, restoring student grants and bringing back educational maintenance and carers allowances.

Mr Watson today highlighted a new defence charter confirming Labour's support for NATO and Britain's nuclear deterrent Trident as one of his key policies.

It puts him at odds with Mr Corbyn, who has previously suggested he may scrap Trident and has questioned Britain's role in NATO.

"I want to see us have a very strong charter on defence and a clear undertaking that Britain will retain the Trident nuclear deterrent," he said.

"It is also important we make clear our support for NATO, which has kept peace in Europe since the Second World War."

Other key issues Mr Watson has touted for inclusion in the manifesto are cutting down NHS waiting times and recruiting 10,000 new police officers.

He insisted the recruitment drive for new bobbies had been 'fully costed', despite last week's confused comments from shadow home secretary Diane Abbott that suggested otherwise.

"The figures have been worked out to the exact penny and it will be an ongoing commitment," he said.

On Labour's new taxation pledges, Mr Watson said the new policy on income tax meant the vast majority of people in the Black Country would not face an income tax rise.

"It is important that Labour gives absolute security to people in this area when it comes to taxes," he added.