Sir Keir Starmer has called for the National Crime Agency to probe over £11.8billion of Covid fraud. Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Mirror, the Labour leader suggested that an NCA investigation could help tackle the rising costs of living.
"It’s a staggering figure and it’s extraordinary the Government is not lifting a finger to get it back," he said. "They are worried if they brought the NCA in it would expose how badly their systems were run.
"Yet that’s almost exactly the sum they hope to raise from their National Insurance hike which hurts so many families struggling with bills. The money will not go to social care or the NHS but to backfill what they have lost to fraud and bad contracts."
READ MORE: Council Tax rebate scam warning as people lose huge sums of money to fraud
The UK is set to have the lowest growth and highest inflation next year of all the G7 nations and Sir Keir believes last month's Spring statement failed to halt the soaring energy bills, rising cost of food and petrol prices for families. This comes in the week that the 1.25 per cent National Insurance rise comes into play.
The Labour leader said what he would like to see to combat these increases. This includes:
- Cutting energy bills by up to £600 with a windfall tax on oil and gas producers.
- Taxing online giants to help struggling firms by offering business rate discounts of up to £5,700.
- Scrapping the 1.25% National Insurance rise.
- Ramping up home insulation upgrades to save up to £400 on bills.
During the interview with the Sunday Mirror, questions were put to the Labour leader by members of the public on social media. One user asked how Sir Keir planned to regain Labour voters who turned their backs on the party in 2019.
He said: "With a relentless focus on the issues that matter to them. The Labour Party has changed. I’ve turned it inside out. Everything we do is about earning back people’s trust and winning the next election."
Dr Simon J Stewart asked: “What will Labour do to restore our NHS to the level of service that is needed?”
Sir Keir replied: "Labour will provide the NHS with the staff, equipment and modern technology needed to treat patients on time."
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
