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Sir Keir Starmer seeks to cement Labour opinion poll lead in speech Sir Keir Starmer sets out vision of 'straight leadership'
(about 1 hour later)
Sir Keir Starmer has sought to capitalise on Labour's recent bounce in the opinion polls in a new year speech. Sir Keir Starmer has sought to capitalise on Boris Johnson's recent troubles by promising to deliver "straight leadership".
He said the Tories have lost voters' trust, as he sets out his vision for a government based on "security, prosperity and respect". In a New Year speech, he said the government was "unworthy" of people's trust and had lost moral authority.
But he also stressed that Labour still had a lot of work to do to gain voters' confidence and can't simply expect to "inherit" power. In a "contract with the British people", he said he would offer "security, prosperity and respect" if Labour wins power.
The Tories dismissed the speech as the "same old platitudes" from Sir Keir. The Tories dismissed the speech as the "same old platitudes".
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. It comes after opinion polls showed a Labour lead 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.
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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. Standing in front of two union flags, Sir Keir said Labour was a "deeply patriotic party" whose electorally successful leaders - Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and Tony Blair - had enacted reforms "rooted in the everyday concerns of working people".
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 highlighted looming tax increases and a cost of living squeeze in his speech. He also talked about crime - one of the PM's key policy areas - claiming that "too many people do not feel safe in their streets".
He also took 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.
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.
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.
But he may struggle to see his message cut through as the pandemic dominates debate as we begin a new year.
He also said 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 also said 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 added that 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 added that 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 added: "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 said: "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."
But he added that the Conservatives were "too busy squabbling" over Boris Johnson's leadership of the party to offer leadership to the country.
Sir Keir said the government had lost the "moral right" to set new Covid rules, adding: "the British people do not like being taken for granted. And they do not like being taken for fools".
He also highlighted looming tax increases and rising prices, predicting that a "cost of living crisis" would become a "major story" in the spring.
He also talked about crime - one of the PM's key policy areas - claiming that "too many people do not feel safe in their streets".
He also took 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".
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.
In a torrid few weeks, Boris Johnson 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.