Twenty-seven years ago today, the British people went to the polls and turned the page on a disastrous period of Tory government. It was a decisive choice, not just in favour of a new party, but in favour of a new politics. In that moment, Britain voted for a minimum wage, peace in Northern Ireland, a million children to be lifted from poverty, the shortest NHS waiting times in history and crime to be reduced by a third.
Like most people in our country, I wanted a general election tomorrow and the opportunity for Britain to look forward with hope once again. Rishi Sunak refused to let the nation have a say for fear of the message the people would send. Yet the many council and mayoral elections still offer millions of voters up and down England the chance to reject chaos, division and decline with the Tories and embrace stability, unity and renewal with Labour.
One of the most important decisions taken tomorrow will be who leads our nation’s capital. Labour’s candidate for London mayor, Sadiq Khan, knows what it is like to inherit a Tory shambles. His predecessor spent eight years wasting £53m, £43m of it taxpayers’ money, on a garden bridge to nowhere, burying a report about the appalling state of London’s air and squandering taxpayers’ money on unusable water cannon.
I have known Sadiq for many years, and I am proud to call him a friend and a colleague. He is someone driven by the principle of giving people the same opportunities he had, which allowed him to go from a council estate in Tooting to leading our capital. During his tenure, Sadiq has transformed the mayoralty from a laughing stock to showing leadership. Every pupil in every London state primary school now receives a free school meal. The capital’s air is cleaner to breathe. The Hopper bus fare, allowing unlimited journeys within one hour for one price, the Superloop express bus routes and the Elizabeth Line have all been delivered. Overall housing completions recently hit their highest level in London since the 1930s and more new council homes are being built now than at any time since the 1970s. And 330,000 good jobs have been created through City Hall initiatives. This is the power of Labour in government. And let us not forget that Sadiq has managed all of this in the teeth of a Tory government; just imagine what could be achieved working with a Labour one.
It is worth remembering that since the return of London’s government at the turn of the century, we have only had four years of a Labour mayor working with a Labour prime minister. But in that time, Crossrail was agreed, the Olympics were secured and massive numbers of social homes were built. Now, a new era of renewal is within reach. And if Labour succeeds in winning elections in our capital and our country, a Labour government will support Sadiq to put up to 1,300 more police officers on London’s streets, build at least 40,000 new council homes, create 150,000 well-paid, high-skilled jobs for Londoners and end rough sleeping for good.
This future hangs in the balance because the result of the London mayoral election will be close, and the choice could not be starker. We simply cannot allow the Tories to harm London in the same way that they have harmed Britain. A Tory mayor would mean fewer police on the streets, hikes to transport costs and fewer affordable homes. For some, the Tory candidate is a figure of ridicule, but the truth is that there is nothing remotely funny about her. Susan Hall has a grim history of reportedly promoting extremist views, from climate change denial to the abuse of journalists and the legacy of Enoch Powell. Rishi Sunak knew this – but rather than getting rid of someone so desperately unsuited to lead our nation’s capital, he backed her.
The Tories’ divisive candidate and campaign in London is yet another example of how disconnected they have become with the aspirations of working people. They have no plan, no policies, no promise of a better tomorrow. In contrast, Labour has a vision and the determination to deliver it.
One of the many great privileges of being on the campaign trail is having the chance to get out and hear from people in the places they work, live and raise their families. Every community is different, but whether from Deptford, Dudley or Durham, our people are bound by the same immense pride they have in their home. They know their communities best and what best works for them. This is why Labour is the party of devolution. We believe Britain succeeds when everyone has a say and a stake.
And the next Labour government will stay true to that philosophy with a Take Back Control Act, that will give mayors access to new powers over transport, skills, enterprise, energy, planning and our high streets.
Our ambition for more devolution is integral to a plan for higher growth, safer streets, more opportunities in every community, cheaper energy bills and an NHS back on its feet. With the opportunity to serve, we can change the lives of working people for good and for better in London and across Britain – and it begins tomorrow.
Vote Sadiq, and you’ll be voting for our mission to give Britain its future back.
Keir Starmer is leader of the Labour party and the official opposition
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