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Keir Starmer makes pre-election pitch to voters with six steps Keir Starmer makes pre-election pitch with six pledges
(about 7 hours later)
Labour leader Keir Starmer will use an event in Essex to tell voters the first steps he would take if his party wins the election, expected this year. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is to outline the first steps he would take if his party wins the next election.
The steps include setting up a border security command to tackle the criminal gangs behind small boats crossings and recruiting 6,500 teachers. The six commitments include a border security command to tackle the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings and recruiting 6,500 teachers.
Speaking ahead of the event, Sir Keir said the pledges were a "down payment on change". At an event in Essex on Thursday, Sir Keir will say the pledges will help begin "a decade of national renewal".
Tory chair Richard Holden said they did not "amount to a hill of beans". The Conservatives said the Labour leader was on his "16th relaunch" and had "no coherent plan".
The Conservative added that while the Labour leader was on his "sixteenth relaunch", his party were "sticking to the plan which is working to strengthen the economy - with inflation down from 11.1% to 3.2% and £900 back in hard-working people's pockets - and a fair immigration system with boat crossings down".
Sensitive and fraught union talks a sign of things to come for LabourSensitive and fraught union talks a sign of things to come for Labour
Sensitive and fraught union talks a sign of things to come for LabourSensitive and fraught union talks a sign of things to come for Labour
PM attacks Starmer on defence as election lines drawnPM attacks Starmer on defence as election lines drawn
PM attacks Starmer on defence as election lines drawnPM attacks Starmer on defence as election lines drawn
Keir Starmer's five missions speech fact-checkedKeir Starmer's five missions speech fact-checked
Keir Starmer's five missions speech fact-checkedKeir Starmer's five missions speech fact-checked
Labour vows to fund pledges by tackling tax dodgersLabour vows to fund pledges by tackling tax dodgers
Labour vows to fund pledges by tackling tax dodgersLabour vows to fund pledges by tackling tax dodgers
Last year, Sir Keir outlined five "missions" including growing the UK economy, making Britain a clean energy superpower, improving the NHS, reforming the justice system and raising education standards. Last year, Sir Keir outlined five "missions" of growing the UK economy, making Britain a clean energy superpower, improving the NHS, reforming the justice system and raising education standards.
Now the Labour leader is attempting to assure voters he would take "urgent" action on these missions by presenting the party's existing policies as the "first steps" he would take if elected: The Labour leader has now added a sixth pledge - the plans for the border - and in a speech will attempt to assure voters he would take "urgent" action on the issues.
The six steps are expected to form a key part of Labour's election campaign and will remind some voters of the pledge cards presented by Tony Blair when he was leading the Labour party ahead of the 1997 general election.
They are:
Sticking to tough spending rules in order to deliver economic stabilitySticking to tough spending rules in order to deliver economic stability
Sticking to tough spending rules in order to deliver economic stabilitySticking to tough spending rules in order to deliver economic stability
Cutting NHS waiting lists by providing 40,000 more appointments each week - funded by tackling tax avoidance and non-dom loopholesCutting NHS waiting lists by providing 40,000 more appointments each week - funded by tackling tax avoidance and non-dom loopholes
Cutting NHS waiting lists by providing 40,000 more appointments each week - funded by tackling tax avoidance and non-dom loopholesCutting NHS waiting lists by providing 40,000 more appointments each week - funded by tackling tax avoidance and non-dom loopholes
Launching a border security command to stop the gangs arranging small boat crossingsLaunching a border security command to stop the gangs arranging small boat crossings
Launching a border security command to stop the gangs arranging small boat crossingsLaunching a border security command to stop the gangs arranging small boat crossings
Setting up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power energy companySetting up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power energy company
Setting up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power energy companySetting up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power energy company
Providing more neighbourhood police officers to reduce antisocial behaviour and introduced new penalties for offendersProviding more neighbourhood police officers to reduce antisocial behaviour and introduced new penalties for offenders
Providing more neighbourhood police officers to reduce antisocial behaviour and introduced new penalties for offendersProviding more neighbourhood police officers to reduce antisocial behaviour and introduced new penalties for offenders
Recruiting 6,500 teachers, paid for through ending tax breaks for private schools.Recruiting 6,500 teachers, paid for through ending tax breaks for private schools.
Recruiting 6,500 teachers, paid for through ending tax breaks for private schools.Recruiting 6,500 teachers, paid for through ending tax breaks for private schools.
The steps are expected to form a key part of Labour's election campaign and will remind some voters of the pledge cards presented by Tony Blair when he was leading the Labour party ahead of the 1997 general election. Pat McFadden, the shadow business secretary and the party's national campaign coordinator, told BBC Breakfast the pledges were "what Labour would do if people vote for us at the next election" and were an "appealing and exciting offer of change that would make a real difference to people's lives".
A Labour spokesman has insisted the steps are "not the sum total" of the party's election offer and insisted the party also stood by its other policy commitments, such as housing and workers' rights, not included in the six steps. He added: "These are things we are going to campaign on between now and whenever the election is called."
"I would remind you for example... the national minimum wage was not on the pledge card in 1997, but it was one of the most important achievements of the Labour government, and in a similar vein, our manifesto will be our full offering."
John Prescott - Labour's deputy leader from 1994 to 2007 - displaying the party's pledge cardsJohn Prescott - Labour's deputy leader from 1994 to 2007 - displaying the party's pledge cards
John Prescott - Labour's deputy leader from 1994 to 2007 - displaying the party's pledge cardsJohn Prescott - Labour's deputy leader from 1994 to 2007 - displaying the party's pledge cards
The party will also be launching an advertising campaign - including ad vans and billboards - which will constitute their largest ad spend since the last general election in 2019.The party will also be launching an advertising campaign - including ad vans and billboards - which will constitute their largest ad spend since the last general election in 2019.
Labour is expected to hold separate launches for voters in Scotland and Wales in the coming weeks.Labour is expected to hold separate launches for voters in Scotland and Wales in the coming weeks.
The event is a further sign that political parties are in full pre-election mode.The event is a further sign that political parties are in full pre-election mode.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can choose when to hold an election, but it has to take place before by 28 January 2025.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can choose when to hold an election, but it has to take place before by 28 January 2025.
Earlier this week, he delivered a wide-ranging speech which included strong criticism of his Labour opponent, attacking Sir Keir's record on defence spending and arguing that he would make the UK less safe.Earlier this week, he delivered a wide-ranging speech which included strong criticism of his Labour opponent, attacking Sir Keir's record on defence spending and arguing that he would make the UK less safe.
Welcome to the Sunak and Starmer showWelcome to the Sunak and Starmer show
Welcome to the Sunak and Starmer showWelcome to the Sunak and Starmer show
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
When is the next general election?When is the next general election?
When is the next general election?When is the next general election?
A Labour spokesman has insisted the six steps are "not the sum total" of the party's election offer and insisted the party also stood by its other policy commitments, such as housing and workers' rights.
"I would remind you for example... the national minimum wage was not on the pledge card in 1997, but it was one of the most important achievements of the Labour government, and in a similar vein, our manifesto will be our full offering." he said.
Tory chair Richard Holden said Labour's plans did not "amount to a hill of beans".
He said the Conservatives were "sticking to the plan which is working to strengthen the economy - with inflation down from 11.1% to 3.2% and £900 back in hard-working people's pockets - and a fair immigration system with boat crossings down".
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Keir StarmerKeir Starmer
Richard HoldenRichard Holden
Labour PartyLabour Party