Dear Mirror readers,
The British people should feel pride in our response to Covid. When we were tested we stood up. It wasn’t easy.
We weren’t able to visit elderly relatives or hug loved ones. Many of us missed funerals and births. Those heart-wrenching sacrifices were for a reason.
In making them, we saved the lives of people we will probably never meet.
That deep public spirit, that love and respect for others has always characterised our nation at its best. It’s what patriotism is really about.
I know the real anger people feel about how the Prime Minister behaved. He set the rules then he broke them repeatedly.
And when he was caught he did what he always does – deny, pretend and then blame someone else.
Even now, he’s saying he’s going to sack the people that work for him just to save himself.
The Prime Minister took us all for fools. He held your sacrifice in contempt. He insulted your intelligence.
His latest argument is that he couldn’t possibly know if there was a party in his house or his office or if he was there when it happened – that he needs the police to tell him.
But his behaviour doesn’t lessen what we have achieved as a country. It only lessens him and those who continue to parrot his nonsense.
My message to the Prime Minister is simple – the British people aren’t fools. They never believed any of it.
He should do the decent thing and resign. Of course, he won’t. He is a man without shame.
When the Queen mourned her husband alone, we saw what leadership looks like.
It is an act of service to you, the British people. That is the least you deserve from a Prime Minister.
Because whoever you are and whatever party you vote for, behaviour and character matter.
That’s why I have committed to a contract with you.
Because, while this Prime Minister has been proven as totally unworthy of his office, the Labour Party I lead, will focus on restoring decency, honour and integrity to public life.
No more treating your hard-earned money as if it’s the personal cash machine of the Tory party to hand out to its friends and donors.
No more embarrassing our country. No more lies.
I know that things are tough at the moment. The cost of living is increasing for all of us. Energy bills are going up but wages aren’t matching them.
Boris Johnson’s tax rises will hit in April. Too many people do not feel safe on their streets. GP appointments are hard to come by.
That’s why, while the Tories have been distracted by their own chaos, Labour has been busy setting out plans – to bring down your energy bills, to tackle crime, to renew our NHS.
I promise that when this complacent government pays the price for its actions, my Labour government will be inspired by the way our country came together to get through the pandemic.
And I promise that our priorities will be delivering the security, prosperity and respect you and your family deserve.
Yours,
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party
