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Sir Keir Starmer will set his sights on a back-to-back general election victory, promising a “decade of national renewal” as he addressed the Labor Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday.
With a general election expected next year, the Labor leader will walk a delicate balance between projecting his vision for the country and avoiding appearing complacent for his party, which is ahead of Rishi Sunak in average opinion polls (Rishi Sunak)’s ruling Conservative Party by 16 percentage points.
Starmer will pledge that Labor will “reverse the Conservative Party’s never-ending decline through a decade of national renewal”. To strike an optimistic tone, he would say: “What is broken can be repaired, and what is destroyed can be rebuilt.”
Labor strategists are not complacent about their chances at the election, admitting Labour’s poll lead is driven more by anger at the Conservative government than enthusiasm for Labour.
Starmer’s aides said his speech would answer the question “Why Labour?” By explaining how a change of government can lead to economic growth, safer streets, cheaper local electricity, better opportunities and a revitalized NHS.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves assured the nation on Monday that Labor would manage the economy with “ironclad” fiscal discipline. The leader’s speech will be delivered on a stage decorated with a giant Union Jack flag.
At times, the sentiment was closer to Conservative rallies, where activists enthusiastically praised Reeves’ defense of tough fiscal rules. Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, who was appointed by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, expressed support for Reeves in a video on Monday.
Starmer’s speech will try to reassure people that they can vote for change without triggering more uncertainty, with language designed to provide “security” and economic discipline.
“People look to us because they want our wounds to heal, and we are the healers. People look to us because these challenges require a modern country, and we are the agents of modernization,” he would say. “People look to us because they want us to build a new Britain, and we are the builders.”
The phrase “we are the builders” was first used by Labour’s Nye Bevan and more recently followed by Osborne in 2015.
The Labor leader will campaign for economic growth at the next election and criticized the Conservative government’s decision to cancel the northern section of HS2 as an example of ministers’ failure to plan for the country’s future.
As Prime Minister, Starmer said he would oversee public investment in a “Green Prosperity Plan” (funded through borrowing), in which the state would co-invest in low-carbon energy schemes, large-scale home insulation schemes and other green schemes. painting.
He is also expected to announce plans for a new generation of “new towns” that could help tackle Britain’s housing shortage.
Shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband announced plans on Monday for an energy independence bill that would bring about sweeping planning reforms and create a state-owned company called GB Energy to invest in low-carbon energy schemes.
Starmer will also criticize his own party’s sharp leftward shift over the years under predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, saying Labor “is no longer a protest party” under his leadership.
“Those days are gone. We will never go back.” Instead, he would say, Labor is now “a service party…”. . . The country comes first, the party comes second.”
Starmer told business leaders on Monday morning that he expected the election to be held in May or October next year.
“I’m not going to predict the outcome of the election, I’m not going to predict the timing of the election, but it will obviously be in May or October. Our team is ready for May,” he said.
On Monday, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called on the government to put a moratorium on HS2 land sales to give local leaders a chance to work out alternatives.
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