Sir Keir Starmer discussed the financial struggles currently facing the country as he delivered a speech today during the Labour Party conference, accusing the Tories of 'losing control' of the economy.
The Labour leader promised a new state-owned energy firm to help create a 'fairer, greener, more dynamic nation' if the Tories are ousted at the next election. He also claimed Labour was the 'party of home ownership', pledging a target of 70 per cent home ownership, and committed to putting the 'country first, and party second'.
During the keynote speech in Liverpool, Sir Keir claimed that Liz Truss' new government had deliberately crippled the economy in order to give tax cuts to the richest in society. It comes after Sir Keir received promising results in a recent poll resulting from core changes to his party.
READ MORE:
One of the strategies he has boasted is a green prosperity plan which he claims will create one million new jobs in towns and cities across the UK. He also stressed that the British public needs a new government with different priorities.
Addressing the conference, he said: "At moments of uncertainty like this we must provide clear leadership. We must stand with working people. Meet their ambitions for real change. Walk towards a better future and build a new Britain, together.”
He added that “we can’t go on like this” following the developments of Friday’s financial statement by the Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng. He told the conference: “The Government has lost control of the British economy – and for what? They’ve crashed the pound – and for what?
“Higher interest rates. Higher inflation. Higher borrowing. And for what? Not for you. Not for working people. For tax cuts for the richest 1% in our society. Don’t forget. Don’t forgive.”
'Deep cost of Tory failure'
Sir Keir also described how the Labour Party would be "different" in its approach to governing the nation. He said: "My government will be different. We will run towards the challenges of tomorrow. We will get us out of this endless cycle of crisis. And we will do it with a fresh start, a new set of priorities and a new way of governing.
“But it won’t be easy. And the first step must be to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.”
He added: “The Prime Minister has finally accepted there’s no alternative to Labour’s plan to freeze energy prices. When she was arguing against ‘handouts’, Labour provided the clarity our nation needed. We said: ‘this winter, not a penny more on anyone’s bills’.”
He continued: "After 12 long years our spirit is ground down. When I talk to working people now, they tell me they work harder and harder just to stand still. That their graft can’t provide their family with a sense of security, that they’re worried their kids won’t have a better life than them.
“Conference, what does it say about Britain when families worry like this about their children’s future? It says an unwritten contract is broken. A contract where in return for hard work, you get on.
“Where your contribution is always respected and which reaches through the generations to say Britain will be better for your children. That’s the deep cost of Tory failure. They keep talking about aspiration but they don’t understand how they’ve choked it off for working people.”
Plans for a 'stronger NHS workforce'
Sir Keir received a large round of applause from delegates at the conference after he laid out his plans to boost the NHS workforce. He said: "I know this will shock you, but the Tories aren’t on the side of the NHS either.
“My mum worked in the NHS. My sister worked in the NHS. My wife still works in the NHS. The NHS runs through our family like a stick of rock. But I tell you what – I’m really worried about how many lives are at risk this winter.
“Talking to doctors in my local hospital, I said ‘the NHS is on its knees, isn’t it?’. They said ‘no, Keir, it’s face down on the floor’. And the pathetic response of the Government last week left it there.
“The way to get it back to its feet is with a stronger NHS workforce. That is the main barrier to capacity right now – staff. So, as Rachel announced yesterday, we will take on an extra 7,500 medical students every year, we will double the number of district nurses, 5,000 new health visitors, 10,000 extra nursing placements.”
'Responsible' government means 'country first, party second'
While addressing his fellow Labour party members, Sir Starmer stressed that their approach must be "country first, party second". He added: "To make our Labour Party fit to serve our country.
“That’s why we had to rip antisemitism out by its roots, why we had to show our support for Nato is non-negotiable, show we want business to prosper, shed unworkable policies.
“Country first, party second.” He further fired more shots at the Tories by claiming that they had acted in a "spectacular fashion" while losing control of the economy.
He added: "Rachel Reeves and I have set out a framework for sound money. We’re determined to reduce debt as a share of our economy.
“Every policy we announce will be fully costed. And we will set up an Office for Value for Money to make sure public spending targets the national interest.
“We should be clear about what that means. It means not being able to do things – good Labour things – as quickly as we might like. That’s what responsible government looks like.
“Because if you lose control of the economy, if you act irresponsibly – as the Tories have done in spectacular fashion – then you lose the ability to do anything. And working people pay the price. We will not let that happen.”
'Great British Energy' pledge
Sir Keir claimed that a Labour government would establish a publicly owned "Great British Energy" within its first year of power, stating that it would be a "new company that takes advantage of the opportunities in clean British power and because it’s right for jobs, because it’s right for growth, because it’s right for energy independence from tyrants like Putin."
The Labour leader told delegates that at the moment the largest onshore wind farm in Wales was owned by Sweden, energy bills in Swansea were paying for schools and hospitals in Stockholm, the Chinese Communist party had a stake in the UK’s nuclear industry and five million Britons paid their bills to a French-owned energy company.
The role of GB Energy would be to provide additional capacity, alongside the rapidly expanding private sector, to establish the UK as a clean energy superpower and guarantee long-term energy security, according to Labour.
100 per cent clean energy by 2030
Sir Keir noted how the party has launched a Green Prosperity Plan which would "turn the UK into a green growth superpower" with a target of 100 per cent clean energy by 2030. He stressed, however, that it would be a "huge national effort" which would provide "New renewable ports. New gigafactories. And insulate 19 million homes.”
He added: "“Working with Ed Miliband and his team, we will make sure this energy revolution powers up all parts of the country. Let’s get clean hydrogen energy into South Yorkshire, in the East of England, across the river in the Wirral.
“Offshore wind in Scotland, Teesside, East and North Yorkshire. Solar power growing in rural communities, in the South East, South West and Midlands.”
He continued: "It will mean new jobs – more than a million new jobs, training for plumbers, electricians, engineers, software designers, technicians, builders. And it will all start within the first 100 days of a new Labour government.
“What will it mean for working people? Cheaper bills and higher living standards.”
'The party of the centre-ground'
Further tackling economic issues, Sir Starmer addressed that Labour would end "the blight of low pay and insecure work" with a New Deal for Working People. He added: "We will end the blight of low pay and insecure work with our New Deal for Working People. We will transform the state so the decisions which drive growth in communities are made by local people with skin in the game.”
Labour also claims it will set a target of 70 per cent home ownership while eradicating 'buy-to-let landlords'. He also affirmed that he is "not just pro-business" but even wants to be "a partner to business" by scrapping business rates and levelling the playing field for start-ups.
Sir Starmer added that Labour would in no way make a deal with the SNP to form a coalition government, stressing that Scotland needs a Labour government. He noted that: "Scotland needs a Labour government that can deliver change. But it also needs the power and resources to shape its own future, whoever’s in power in Westminster. And the SNP are not interested in this."
He concluded that his Labour party is the "party of the centre-ground", adding: "Conference, on climate change, growth, aspiration, levelling-up, Brexit, economic responsibility we are the party of the centre-ground."
Read next:
