Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. All News Sport Culture Lifestyle Starmer sees off Tory calls for inquiry into Mandelson affair Leading pollster Sir John Curtice believes Sir Keir Starmer is unlikely to lead Labour into the next general election, saying it is a question of “when, not if” he resigns. Meanwhile, polling expert Lord Hayward predicts Labour could face a “drastic” loss of over 75 per cent of the council seats they are defending next week, equating to 1,850 losses. Reform UK is projected to be the biggest winner in the local elections, gaining 1,550 seats, while the Green Party is expected to pick up 500. The elections are seen as a moment of severe peril for the prime minister, with challenges including the Peter Mandelson scandal and record-low economic optimism. Despite the anticipated poor results, some analysts suggest Sir Keir might retain his position due to the absence of an obvious successor.…