This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-69016719

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Keir Starmer makes pre-election pitch with six pledges Keir Starmer sets out what Labour would do first if it wins election
(about 3 hours later)
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has set out the first six steps he would take if his party wins the next election. The Labour leader says he leads a "charged party" as he outlines plans for government with six steps
The commitments include a border security command to tackle the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings and recruiting 6,500 teachers. The Labour leader says he leads a "charged party" as he outlines plans for government with six steps
At an event in Essex on Thursday, Sir Keir will say the pledges will help begin "a decade of national renewal". Sir Keir Starmer has set out what Labour would do first if it wins this year's general election.
The Conservatives said the Labour leader was on his "16th relaunch" and had "no coherent plan". The Labour leader unveiled a pledge card with six key policies, including delivering "economic stability" and providing 40,000 more hospital appointments each week.
Some of the pledges are more modest in scale than the five "national missions" Sir Keir announced last year.
But he said they were the "first steps" towards Labour's bigger plans.
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. Sir Keir's five missions include making the UK the fastest-growing major economy by the end of a first Labour term in government and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
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. He rejected claims the party had scaled back its ambitions as an election approached, saying the party had a "big, bold plan" but "we need first steps".
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. He also rejected being a Tony Blair "copycat" - despite handing out pledge cards, as Sir Tony did before his 1997 landslide election victory, and posing for pictures in a white shirt with rolled up sleeves.
They are: But he welcomed comparisons between himself and past Labour leaders who had led the party to general election victories.
"Well the first thing I'd say about Tony Blair, other than he took his tie off at big events, is that he won three elections in a row," Sir Keir added.
But he insisted the circumstances in 2024 were much different to those experienced by Labour when Sir Tony took power, describing it as a "very different moment to 1997".
Sir Keir's six "first steps" 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.
John 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 cards
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 cards
John Prescott - Labour's deputy leader from 1994 to 2007 - displaying the party's pledge cards
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.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. Labour 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. Conservative chairman Richard Holden said the British public would not be "conned" by Sir Keir, saying the Labour leader had "dumped every pledge that he made during the Labour leadership campaign" and when he was "trying to get Jeremy Corbyn in to be our prime minister".
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said Labour's plans did not "amount to a hill of beans". "I think people need to take with an enormous pinch of salt anything that he is putting forward," added Mr Holden.
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". "It's quite clear Labour don't have a cohesive plan."
This was a slick, highly choreographed, not cheap to stage event.
A mixture of speeches from politicians and voices sympathetic to Labour, mixed with videos and graphics.
I have been to hundreds of political events. Many pretty small. Others shambolic.
This is neither, in its attempt to project momentum and generate attention for Labour.
Beneath the surface there appear to be far more party staff buzzing about, fretting about the small details.
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