This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59862654
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sir Keir Starmer seeks to cement Labour opinion poll lead in speech | Sir Keir Starmer seeks to cement Labour opinion poll lead in speech |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sir Keir Starmer will seek to capitalise on Labour's recent bounce in the opinion polls in a speech later. | Sir Keir Starmer will seek to capitalise on Labour's recent bounce in the opinion polls in a speech later. |
| He will say the Tories have lost voters' trust, as he sets out his vision for a government based on "security, prosperity and respect". | He will say the Tories have lost voters' trust, as he sets out his vision for a government based on "security, prosperity and respect". |
| But he will also stress that Labour still has a lot of work to do to gain voters' confidence and can't simply expect to "inherit" power. | But he will also stress that Labour still has a lot of work to do to gain voters' confidence and can't simply expect to "inherit" power. |
| The Tories dismissed the speech as the "same old platitudes" from Sir Keir. | The Tories dismissed the speech as the "same old platitudes" from Sir Keir. |
| The Labour leader's speech, in Birmingham, comes after opinion polls showed a clear lead for his party for the first time since Boris Johnson came to power. | |
| The prime minister is also hoping the new year will give him a chance to regain the initiative after a torrid few weeks. | The prime minister is also hoping the new year will give him a chance to regain the initiative after a torrid few weeks. |
| PM has lost trust and authority to lead - Starmer | PM has lost trust and authority to lead - Starmer |
| Has Johnson lost his winning touch? | Has Johnson lost his winning touch? |
| Starmer aims for experience and youth in reshuffle | Starmer aims for experience and youth in reshuffle |
| He has faced reports of parties at Downing Street while Coronavirus restrictions were in place, a backbench rebellion over Covid rules - which only passed because of Labour backing - and a defeat to the Liberal Democrats in the North Shropshire by-election. | He has faced reports of parties at Downing Street while Coronavirus restrictions were in place, a backbench rebellion over Covid rules - which only passed because of Labour backing - and a defeat to the Liberal Democrats in the North Shropshire by-election. |
| This followed weeks of damaging headlines over the autumn after his botched attempt to block a suspension for now ex-Tory MP Owen Paterson, who was found to have breached Commons rules on paid lobbying. | This followed weeks of damaging headlines over the autumn after his botched attempt to block a suspension for now ex-Tory MP Owen Paterson, who was found to have breached Commons rules on paid lobbying. |
| Sir Kier will highlight looming tax increases and a cost of living squeeze in his speech. He will also talk about crime - one of the PM's key policy areas - claiming that "too many people do not feel safe in their streets". | Sir Kier will highlight looming tax increases and a cost of living squeeze in his speech. He will also talk about crime - one of the PM's key policy areas - claiming that "too many people do not feel safe in their streets". |
| He will also take a swipe at the prime minister's character by saying: "I don't think politics is a branch of the entertainment industry. I think it's the serious business of getting things done". | He will also take a swipe at the prime minister's character by saying: "I don't think politics is a branch of the entertainment industry. I think it's the serious business of getting things done". |
| Recent opinion polls may have provided some cheer for Sir Keir Starmer but a frequent refrain has been that people do not know what he stands for. This speech is an attempt to rectify that. | Recent opinion polls may have provided some cheer for Sir Keir Starmer but a frequent refrain has been that people do not know what he stands for. This speech is an attempt to rectify that. |
| And Sir Keir is clearly seeking to capitalise on Boris Johnson's recent political woes. Some around him believe the "shine" has come off the government and voters are starting to look at alternatives. | And Sir Keir is clearly seeking to capitalise on Boris Johnson's recent political woes. Some around him believe the "shine" has come off the government and voters are starting to look at alternatives. |
| References to Sir Keir being a patriot, and offering people security in their jobs and homes, prosperity and respect, don't have a catchy new ring to them, but seem designed to try to draw traditional Labour voters back to the party. | References to Sir Keir being a patriot, and offering people security in their jobs and homes, prosperity and respect, don't have a catchy new ring to them, but seem designed to try to draw traditional Labour voters back to the party. |
| The timing is deliberate. Sir Keir has imposed more control within his party and recently appointed the shadow cabinet team he thinks could be in place at the next general election. | The timing is deliberate. Sir Keir has imposed more control within his party and recently appointed the shadow cabinet team he thinks could be in place at the next general election. |
| Meanwhile, the government is facing a difficult few months with inflation, rising energy prices and the increase in national insurance coming in the spring. | Meanwhile, the government is facing a difficult few months with inflation, rising energy prices and the increase in national insurance coming in the spring. |
| But he may struggle to see his message cut through as the pandemic dominates debate as we begin a new year. | But he may struggle to see his message cut through as the pandemic dominates debate as we begin a new year. |
| He will also say that 2022 is a big year for the country, with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and Birmingham hosting the Commonwealth Games later in the year, as well as both England's men's and women's football teams competing for international honours. | He will also say that 2022 is a big year for the country, with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and Birmingham hosting the Commonwealth Games later in the year, as well as both England's men's and women's football teams competing for international honours. |
| And he will say 2022 is the first year in which the UK needs to tackle some "big challenges" including "repairing after the pandemic, combating the climate crisis; and making Brexit work". | And he will say 2022 is the first year in which the UK needs to tackle some "big challenges" including "repairing after the pandemic, combating the climate crisis; and making Brexit work". |
| He adds: "I believe that the best still lies ahead for this country. But only if we have the courage to create a new Britain. A country in which you and your family get the security, prosperity and respect you deserve." | He adds: "I believe that the best still lies ahead for this country. But only if we have the courage to create a new Britain. A country in which you and your family get the security, prosperity and respect you deserve." |
| Reacting to previews of the speech, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said: "New year, same old platitudes from Keir Starmer". | Reacting to previews of the speech, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said: "New year, same old platitudes from Keir Starmer". |
| "Instead of building trust with the British people, he's out of touch and without a plan for Britain's future," he added. | "Instead of building trust with the British people, he's out of touch and without a plan for Britain's future," he added. |