Sir Keir Starmer has set out his promises to give hope to struggling families as he arrives in Liverpool for the annual party conference.
The Labour Leader was pictured being greeted by supporters as he arrived in Liverpool with his wife Victoria. He was spotted at Lime Street station and the Pullman hotel ahead of the Labour Party Conference which is due to start today, September 25 until September 28.
Expectations will be high for Sir Keir Starmer to set out the dividing lines between his party and the new Tory government. Supporters of the Labour leader hope he will use the four-day event to capitalise on the unpopularity of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng's economic measures.
READ MORE: Murderer emotionless as he's jailed for 22 years for killing dad
But in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, ahead of the conference, Sir Keir Starmer set out his plans to reverse Tory policies and give hope to struggling families. He also declares that he will order Labour MPs to vote against the abolition of the top 45% income tax rate for £150,000 earners.
But the 31 million taxpayers who saw a penny lopped off their 20% basic rate in Kwasi Kwarteng ’s budget on Friday will be allowed to keep that rebate after the next general election. Chatting to the Mirror, in his first national newspaper interview since Liz Truss became PM, he said he was appalled a £1million earner is being handed more than £40,000 back when so many ordinary workers do not know where the next pound is coming from.
He said: "Removing the cap on bankers’ bonuses when people are really struggling to pay their bills shows the Tories are absolutely tone deaf to what so many people are going through. And scrapping the 45% tax rate is wrong in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. We wouldn’t be doing it. The Tories presided over stagnation for 12 years and they have done nothing to break that cycle."
Despite being unable to make final tax decisions until he is PM, he sad Labour's direction was clear. The Mirror reports that Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously said he will protect the £314million of public money going into care homes by clamping down on bosses who avoid tax.
And deputy leader Angela Rayner will promise to stop handing £40billon in contracts to firms with tax haven links, which loses the Treasury £17billion in corporation tax revenue. Angela Rayner is set to kickstart the conference today with a speech at 11.25am followed by a meeting to discuss party reports, before a discussion on 'winning the General Election' takes place from 1.30pm.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will take to the stage in the main hall from 2pm on Tuesday, September 27 for what is expected to be one of the biggest moments of the whole event. According to the Mirror, tackling climate change is likely to be the centrepiece of his keynote speech on Tuesday as he said: "The climate crisis is the biggest opportunity this country has had for decades to get ahead on the next generation of jobs.
"The mission is an economy which works for working people while dealing with our obligations on the climate crisis. I’m talking about the next generation of jobs. Green for me equals jobs for the future. It’s not being green for the sake of it.
"It’s a reflection of my working class upbringing and what a skilled, secure job means for a family. And I’m a father and I have an obligation to my children and to tackle the climate crisis."
That means setting a target to remove all fossil fuels from Britain’s power system by 2030 and making Britain a net exporter of clean energy five years ahead of current plans. He added the "NHS is on its knees" and that "law and order out of control are the immediate issues which have to be dealt with".
According to the Mirror, Sir Keir is criticised for not having policies even though he is brimming over with them. But he accepts he may have to shout about them more. In his latest Tweet he said: "Tory casino economics is gambling the mortgages and finances of every family in the country. Labour will secure growth for working people, that benefits all communities."
He said his government would reform the House of Lords, clean up politics and put power into communities nationwide. A Resolution Foundation report yesterday revealed that budget tax changes will give those in London and the South East an average £1,600 but only £500 to those in Wales, the North East and Yorkshire.
Under Labour, private schools would lose charitable status and the £1.7billion saved would go to hiring teachers in state education. Childcare would become more affordable, so parents would not have to give up work to look after kids. And of the Irish protocol row, which is preventing a trade deal with the US, Sir Keir said: "We would make it work better, not tear it up."
He would also deal with migration by speeding up asylum applications and opening safe routes. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will hire 13,000 more neighbourhood police and new rape courts will fast track justice for victims.
Sir Keir is not planning on going easy on Liz Truss. He said: "My starting point with everyone is respect. But politically I couldn’t disagree with her more. There is a massive divide between us."
Speaking about female leaders, especially in his own party, he added: "Do we need a woman leader in the future? Yes. The party acknowledges that. I want to win the next election and be the next Prime Minister. But I’ve no doubt a future leader will be a woman."
Speaking about the energy price freeze policy, Sir Keir added: "We said freeze prices and the PM did. But the question is how to pay for it. We’d put the cost on the oil and gas companies. They are putting it on borrowing."
Labour claimed the plunging pound could cost Britain up to £7billion a year more in energy costs because imports make up 38% of UK power needs. Shadow Treasury Secretary Pat McFadden said: “This Tory government has lost control of the economy.”
A Labour government will also pledge 13,000 extra neighbourhood police, meaning at least 15 extra officers, PCSOs or specials for every constituency. Yvette Cooper plans to reverse 30% cuts in neighbourhood policing since 2015, if Labour wins the next election.
Labour will unveil plans to establish specialist rape courtrooms to try cases. They will be placed in 80 existing crown courts to speed up justice and provide dedicated support to victims. Shadow Justice Minister.
Independent sexual violence advisers would be on hand to ensure every victim is treated with care and sensitivity. They currently face more than 1,000 days of delays from the report of the offence to completion at court and only one in 100 suspected rapists is being prosecuted.
READ NEXT:
89 tributes, death and funeral notices from across Merseyside
Fury as university staff 'forced to cross picket' during strike action
Judge rejects killer's plea of remorse after he left man to die
Murderer emotionless as he's jailed for 22 years for killing dad
Holly Willoughby issues official statement after 'queue jump' row
