Keir Starmer says Labour now has ‘credible programme’ to win next general election

Published

4 years ago

September 30, 2021

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Sir Keir Starmer has said the Labour conference this week was a turning point for the party and it now has a “credible programme” to win the next general election.

The Labour leader, speaking the morning after his 90-minute keynote speech, said if voters do not want to support the plans put forward at conference then he does not know what their problem is.

Sir Keir told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “It’s a broad church, there is something now to unite behind, which is the programme we’re setting out – a credible programme for government.

“We can unite around a programme that is credible and that will put us into a position to go into government.

“If you dissent, if you don’t like affordable housing which is was what we unveiled on Friday, if you don’t like employment rights, including statutory sick pay, which was so desperately needed during the pandemic, if you don’t like the idea that children should leave school ready for life, ready for work, then I don’t really know what you’re arguing against, because it seems to me working families up and down the country are desperate for these changes to be made.”

During the five-day Labour conference in Brighton, the first in-person since Sir Keir became leader in 2020, the party made several big policy announcements on the economy, housing, employment and education.

It promised to spend an extra £28bn a year on making the UK economy more “green”, phase out business rates and ensure tech giants pay more tax, increase council and affordable housing stocks, increase the minimum wage to at least £10 an hour and end charitable status for private schools.

And Sir Keir managed to get through a change in how Labour leaders are voted for, despite much talk against it before the vote over the weekend.

Sir Keir’s speech was derided as too long by some but he said it was meant to be an hour and the extra half-an-hour was due to “applause and giving me standing ovations”.

“That is a good thing, and some heckling, yes – but if the only criticism of the speech is it was too long then I’ll take that and trim it for next time,” he said.

The Labour leader has struggled with accusations of being uncharismatic and lacking emotion but his speech on Wednesday was deeply personal as he drew on his experiences of being brought up by his toolmaker father and NHS nurse mother.

He said he did not agree that you needed to be a showman to win a general election and used the example of Labour Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, saying he is “not a showman” but has a “very reassuring, honest, open, transparent style”.

And he dismissed Boris Johnson’s style of leadership, pointing to the current fuel and energy crises and saying: “We are lurching from crisis to crisis to crisis.

“Yes, you can campaign on slogans but you absolutely can’t govern in slogans.”

Sir Keir added that he is continually compared with other leaders but he is his own man and is confident he can win the next election.

He said: “Ever since I became Labour leader people have been wanting to tattoo somebody else’s name on my head, are you this previous leader, that previous leader – all leaders are different.

“My job is not to hug a leader from the past but to do the job that leader of the Labour needs to do now, which is to get our party ready to go into the next general election and be in a position to win it – and win it.

“We are absolutely going for that next general election, I’m fed up with people saying you can’t do it.”

Politics

Bitcoin ETFs log $912M inflows in ‘dramatic’ investor sentiment boost

Published

3 hours ago

April 23, 2025

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Bitcoin ETFs log 2M inflows in ‘dramatic’ investor sentiment boost

Investments in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rebounded to levels last seen in January, signaling a recovery in investor sentiment from concerns about global trade tariff escalations.

US spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs had over $912 million worth of cumulative net inflows on April 22, marking their highest daily investment in more than three months since Jan. 21, Farside Investors data shows.

Bitcoin ETFs log $912M inflows in ‘dramatic’ investor sentiment boost — *Bitcoin ETF Flow, millions. Source:* *Farside Investors*

“Bitcoin ETPs just saw the largest daily inflows since 21st January in a dramatic improvement in sentiment,” according to James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares.

Investor sentiment appeared to improve after US President Donald Trump said that import tariffs on Chinese goods will “come down substantially,” adopting a softer tone in negotiations.

The de-escalation and growing ETF inflows pushed Bitcoin price above $93,000 for the first time in seven weeks, Cointelegraph reported on April 23.

The growing institutional investment and presence of ETFs may also accelerate the historic four-year cycle and bolster BTC to new highs before the end of 2025, analysts told Cointelegraph.

US dollar weakness may reinforce Bitcoin’s safe-haven appeal

The US dollar’s weakness may contribute to the growing investor demand for Bitcoin.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the strength of the greenback against a basket of leading fiat currencies, has declined 9% since the beginning of 2025, touching a three-year low of 98.8 last seen in April 2022, TradingView data shows.

“Macro factors like a weakening dollar and rising gold correlation” may reinforce Bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge against economic volatility, Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research, told Cointelegraph.

Bitcoin no longer trading in the “shadow of tech”

Crypto and traditional stock markets are “walking a tightrope between political drama and economic reality,” with Bitcoin staging a significant rebound thanks to “strong ETF inflows, institutional acquisitions, and a weakening US dollar,” according to Nexo dispatch analyst Iliya Kalchev:

“Bitcoin’s strength amid dollar weakness, record gold prices, and renewed institutional buying reflects a market recalibrating what safety looks like.”

“The conversation has clearly shifted. Bitcoin is no longer trading in the shadows of tech — it’s becoming a lens through which macro uncertainty is priced,” he added.

Nansen CEO Alex Svanevik also praised Bitcoin’s resilience, noting that the maturing asset has become “less Nasdaq — more gold” in the past two weeks, increasingly acting as a safe haven asset against economic turmoil, though concerns over economic recession may limit its price trajectory.

On April 21, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes predicted that this might be the “last chance” to buy Bitcoin below $100,000, as the incoming US Treasury buybacks may signal the next significant catalyst for Bitcoin price.

Magazine: Bitcoin’s odds of June highs, SOL’s $485M outflows, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 2 – 8

Politics

Binance tightens South African compliance rules for crypto transfers

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2025

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Binance tightens South African compliance rules for crypto transfers

Binance is set to implement new compliance measures for South African users, requiring sender and receiver information for all crypto deposits and withdrawals.

In an announcement on April 23, the largest exchange in terms of daily trading volume of cryptocurrencies said the move comes in response to local regulatory demands.

Starting April 30, Binance users in South Africa will be prompted to provide additional information when transferring crypto.

For deposits, users must disclose the sender’s full name, country of residence, and, if applicable, the name of the originating crypto exchange. Similarly, withdrawals will require beneficiary details before processing.

The update will only impact crypto deposits and withdrawals, leaving trading and other platform features unaffected.

Missing transfer details may reverse transactions

Binance warned that failure to provide the required information may result in delayed transactions or, in some cases, a return of funds to the sender.

In preparation for the rollout, users will need to re-login to their accounts starting April 24.

The change comes as South Africa moves to boost oversight of the rapidly moving crypto sector.

On April 2, Bloomberg reported that South Africa’s Revenue Service (SARS) is urging individuals, crypto exchanges and intermediaries involved in crypto transactions to register with the authority, warning that failure to do so is now illegal.

In March, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) of South Africa issued a public warning against two unlicensed crypto firms, Afriinvest and Mutualwealth, accusing them of soliciting investments while promising unrealistic returns of up to 10,000 rand ($542) per day.

South Africa pushes to become key crypto hub

Emerging economies across Africa, particularly South Africa, are positioning themselves as potential digital asset hubs amid growing regulatory clarity, Ben Caselin, chief marketing officer (CMO) of Johannesburg-based crypto exchange VALR, told Cointelegraph in September 2024.

Caselin said that South Africa’s strong legal framework and ease of business make it a key entry point for crypto expansion across the continent.

The South African crypto market is projected to generate $278 million in revenue in 2025, with expectations to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.86% and reach $332.9 million by 2028, according to Statista.

Regulatory momentum is increasing, with the FSCA approving 59 crypto platform licenses in March 2024, while over 260 applications remain under review.

Cointelegraph contacted Binance for comments but did not receive a response by publication.

Magazine: Former Love Island star’s tips on how to go viral in crypto: Van00sa, X Hall of Flame

Politics

Robert Jenrick vows to ‘bring coalition together’ to end Tory-Reform fight

Published

7 hours ago

April 23, 2025

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Robert Jenrick vows to 'bring coalition together' to end Tory-Reform fight

Robert Jenrick has vowed to “bring this coalition together” to ensure that Conservatives and Reform UK are no longer fighting each other for votes by the time of the next election, according to a leaked recording obtained by Sky News.

The shadow justice secretary told an event with students last month he would try “one way or another” to make sure Reform UK and the Tories do not compete at another general election and hand a second term in office to Keir Starmer in the process.

In the exclusive audio, Mr Jenrick can be heard telling the students he is still working hard to put Reform UK out of business – the position of the Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

However, more controversially, the comments also suggest he can envisage a time when that position may no longer be viable and has to change. He denies any suggestion this means he is advocating a Tory-Reform UK pact.

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The shadow justice secretary came second to Mrs Badenoch in the last leadership contest and is the bookies’ favourite to replace her as the next Conservative leader.

Speaking to the UCL Conservative association dinner in late March, he can be heard saying: “[Reform UK] continues to do well in the polls. And my worry is that they become a kind of permanent or semi-permanent fixture on the British political scene. And if that is the case, and I say, I am trying to do everything I can to stop that being the case, then life becomes a lot harder for us, because the right is not united.

“And then you head towards the general election, where the nightmare scenario is that Keir Starmer sails in through the middle as a result of the two parties being disunited. I don’t know about you, but I’m not prepared for that to happen.

“I want the fight to be united. And so, one way or another, I’m determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well.”

This is the furthest a member of the shadow cabinet has gone in suggesting that they think the approach to Reform UK may evolve before the next general election.

Last night, Mr Jenrick denied this meant he was advocating a pact with Reform UK.

A source close to Mr Jenrick said: “Rob’s comments are about voters and not parties. He’s clear we have to put Reform out of business and make the Conservatives the natural home for all those on the right, rebuilding the coalition of voters we had in 2019 and can have again. But he’s under no illusions how difficult that is – we have to prove over time we’ve changed and can be trusted again.”

Mrs Badenoch has said in interviews that she cannot see any circumstances that the Tories under her leadership would do a deal with Reform UK.

In next week’s local elections, Reform UK will compete directly against the Tories in a series of contests from Kent to Lincolnshire. At last year’s general election, in more than 170 of the 251 constituencies lost by the Conservatives the Reform vote was greater than the margin of the Tories’ defeat.

Today’s YouGov/Sky voting intention figures put Reform UK in front on 25%, Labour on 23% and the Conservatives on 20%, with the Lib Dems on 16% and Greens on 10%.