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Keir Starmer makes pre-election pitch with six pledges Keir Starmer makes pre-election pitch with six pledges
(about 1 hour later)
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is to outline the first steps he would take if his party wins the next election. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has set out the first six steps he would take if his party wins the next election.
The six commitments include a border security command to tackle the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings and recruiting 6,500 teachers. The commitments include a border security command to tackle the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings and recruiting 6,500 teachers.
At an event in Essex on Thursday, Sir Keir will say the pledges will help begin "a decade of national renewal".At an event in Essex on Thursday, Sir Keir will say the pledges will help begin "a decade of national renewal".
The Conservatives said the Labour leader was on his "16th relaunch" and had "no coherent plan".The Conservatives said the Labour leader was on his "16th relaunch" and had "no coherent plan".
PM attacks Starmer on defence as election lines drawn
PM attacks Starmer on defence as election lines drawn
Live: Keir Starmer to outline six pledges in pre-election speechLive: Keir Starmer to outline six pledges in pre-election speech
Live: Keir Starmer to outline six pledges in pre-election speechLive: Keir Starmer to outline six pledges in pre-election speech
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" of 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.
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 Labour leader has now added a sixth pledge - plans to tackle people smuggling gangs - 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. The six steps will form the spine 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: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 loopholes.Cutting 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 loopholes.Cutting 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.
Pledges on healthcare, policing and teaching only apply to England as powers over these matters are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Labour will make separate policy pledges for Scotland and Wales.Pledges on healthcare, policing and teaching only apply to England as powers over these matters are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Labour will make separate policy pledges for Scotland and Wales.
Labour has put no precise time frame for delivering these policies, but shadow business secretary and Labour's national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden, said his party will implement them "as soon as possible".Labour has put no precise time frame for delivering these policies, but shadow business secretary and Labour's national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden, said his party will implement them "as soon as possible".
Mr McFadden told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "as soon as we get elected we will put in place the changes that we need to put in place to make these first steps happen".Mr McFadden told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "as soon as we get elected we will put in place the changes that we need to put in place to make these first steps happen".
The six pledges "were the foundation" for proving showing the party can be "trusted with public money and trusted with defence", he said.The six pledges "were the foundation" for proving showing the party can be "trusted with public money and trusted with defence", he said.
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 also launched 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.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."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.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said Labour's plans did not "amount to a hill of beans".Conservative Party chairman 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".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".
The shadow cabinet have piled on to a train out of London. This was a slick, highly choreographed, not cheap to stage event.
The event Labour are staging is all about creating a sense, they hope, of momentum and generating attention. There will be videos and speeches, culminating in Sir Keir Starmer doing a turn and taking questions. A mixture of speeches from politicians and voices sympathetic to Labour, mixed with videos and graphics.
Afterwards shadow cabinet ministers will mill about sounding upbeat on camera, as happens after the leader's speech at party conference. I have been to hundreds of political events. Many pretty small. Others shambolic.
The blurb we have been sent in advance shows Sir Keir minus a jacket with his sleeves rolled up. These are branded as his first steps, rather than Labour's. This is neither, in its attempt to project momentum and generate attention for Labour.
Very personal, even presidential. Beneath the surface there appear to be far more party staff buzzing about, fretting about the small details.
The aim of today isn't to say anything brand new. But to turn existing plans - set out in the party's so-called missions for government over the last year and a bit - into sentences of digestible policy they can repeat over and over again over the coming months. This is a party haunted by its dismal track record at general elections.
They lose far more than they win. They're desperate that that changes later this year.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Keir StarmerKeir Starmer
Richard HoldenRichard Holden
Labour PartyLabour Party