Sir Keir Starmer to launch election campaign with vow to change the ‘character of politics’
Sir Keir Starmer is launching his election campaign on Thursday – and will promise the “character of politics will change” if Labour enters power.
The government has until December this year to call an election – although if it decides to go to the polls so late, the vote itself will not happen until January 2025.
Sir Keir’s speech follows similar events held by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Reform UK head Richard Tice.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘May election the worst kept secret in Parliament’
The prime minister is yet to hold such a launch for his campaign – and this week has been marred by controversy over a claim the government has cleared the asylum backlog, which the UK’s stats watchdog is now probing.
Labour has held a double-digit lead over the Conservatives in polling since before Rishi Sunak entered Number 10, according to the Sky News poll tracker.
Speaking in the West of England, Sir Keir is set to say: “No matter the road the Tories take this year, I believe that if people see the commitment to service is always there in politics, and if they can see that people in power respect their concerns, then a lot of people across this country, after everything we’ve been through over the past 14 years, will find some hope in that.
“It will feel different. The character of politics will change, and with it the national mood. A collective breathing out, a burden lifted, and then, the space for a more hopeful look forward.
“Because the truth is, it’s this kind of politics and only this kind of politics that can offer real change.
“So do not listen to the siren voices that say we’re all the same. We’re not, and we never will be.”
Sir Keir setting out his stall to voters this early marks a contrast to last year, when Rishi Sunak spoke ahead of his Labour adversary and announced his five pledges.
In his address last year, the Labour leader promised to end “sticking plaster politics” – a phrase he has often repeated since.
Read more:
What 2024 could have in store for UK politics
May election ‘worst kept secret’ says Labour
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Starmer thanks NHS staff in Christmas message
Voters ‘right to be anti-Westminster’
Returning to this year, Sir Keir will also ask voters to “believe” in a “downtrodden” UK again.
He is set to say: “This year, at the general election, against the understandable despair of a downtrodden country, I will ask the British people to believe in it again.
“You’re right to be anti-Westminster and angry about what politics has become.
“But hold on to any flickering hope in your heart that things can be better, because they can, and you can choose it.
“You can reject the pointless populist gestures and the low-road cynicism that the Tories believe is all you deserve.
“That’s all they have left now. After 14 years, with nothing good to show, no practical achievements to point towards, no purpose beyond the fight to save their own skins.”
The Labour leader will also play on recent scandals to highlight a “need to clean up politics”.
He will add that under Labour there will be “no more VIP fast lanes, no more kickbacks for colleagues, no more revolving doors between government and the companies they regulate” – adding that he “will restore standards in public life with a total crackdown on cronyism: this ends now”.
He will point out that “trust in politics is now so low, so degraded” following “the sex scandals, the expenses scandals, the waste scandals, the contracts for friends, even in a crisis like the pandemic, people have looked at us and concluded we’re all just in it for ourselves”.
And as he further distances himself from the Corbyn era, Sir Keir will say that Labour is “no longer a party of protest, but a party of service”.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Speaking ahead of the event, Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said: “Nothing is more cynical and populist than a weather vane Labour leader who has a consistent track record of telling people whatever he thinks they want to hear on any given day.
“He was for a second Brexit referendum, then he wasn’t. He told Labour members when he was running to be leader he would nationalise industry and scrap tuition fees, but then dropped these policies as soon as the contest was over. And he says he opposes Jeremy Corbyn now despite campaigning twice to make him prime minister and calling him his ‘friend’.
“The only thing we know for certain about Keir Starmer is that he has a £28bn black hole in his spending promises which will mean thousands of pounds of tax rises every year for families.”
Standard Chartered-backed Zodia Custody has exited its Japan venture with SBI Holdings after two years, with both firms calling the move a strategic realignment.
MPs are demanding Peter Mandelson appears on British soil to give evidence on his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
But there is frustration within parliament at Lord Mandelson’s ability to avoid scrutiny, as Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to sack him as ambassador to the US over his links to the deceased billionaire.
It comes after it emerged the Labour peer, who has said he wishes he had never met Epstein, had written him a 2003 birthday note in which he described him as his “best pal”.
According to reports in Bloomberg and The Sun, he also sent Epstein messages of support while he was being investigated for sex offences, telling him he was “following you closely and here whenever you need”.
Politics Hub: Follow the latest from Westminster
Sky News has learned that the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee of MPs made a request to hear from Lord Mandelson after he was appointed by Sir Keir last year, but this was blocked by the Foreign Office.
Lord Mandelson‘s status as a member of the House of Lords means the committee cannot force him to appear before them. People overseas can also not be compelled to give evidence.
Committees have the power to summon people to give evidence and find them in contempt of parliament if they do not comply.
Lord Mandelson’s failure to appear adds to the controversy around a lack of government transparency sparked by the decision to not let national security adviser Jonathan Powell give evidence to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.
Mike Tapp, the Home Office minister, told Sky News that it is “important we have full answers” on Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.
Asked if he should face the scrutiny of parliamentary committees, Mr Tapp said: “What is important to me, and I’m really clear on this, is we do have the full answers on this.
“But Sir Keir Starmer has been clear yesterday in the House that all of the answers are there.”
Conservative MP and FAC member Aphra Brandreth is the only person on the committee to publicly call for Lord Mandelson to give them evidence on the ambassador’s links to Epstein.
Sky News understands that others on the committee are keen for Lord Mandelson to speak to them, but have decided not to go public. As the committee make-up mirrors that of parliament, most members are Labour MPs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Beth’s breakdown: PM grilled over Mandelson
Read more on Mandelson:
Starmer backs his ambassador
What was his relationship with Epstein?
The disconnect between his claims and letters to Epstein
Ms Brandreth said in a statement: “At a time of huge instability around the globe, it’s vital that the UK’s ambassador to the US is focused completely on his job
“As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I would welcome the opportunity to question Lord Mandelson on his ability to carry out his duties to the UK.”
She shared a letter written by fellow Tory MP and former Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns.
In the letter, Ms Kearns called on current chair Dame Emily Thornberry to summon Lord Mandelson, question him and put the concerns of MPs to him.
Ms Kearns also wants to know what questions Dame Emily has asked the Foreign Office since the appointment of Lord Mandelson, and to find out “how substantial” his relationship with Epstein was.
Ms Kearns told Sky News: “Months and months have passed with no action from the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, instead, there has been an unsettling silence from her on all things Mandelson.
“I would have summoned Mandelson long ago, it’s the chair’s duty to get the answers parliament deserves. It’s all too evident Thornberry has long been focused on her next role, not the one she’s been elected and paid to do.”
In January, Dame Emily raised Lord Mandelson’s appointment with Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty.
She said the appointment was “inspired” – before asking the minister and government to “allow Lord Mandelson the time to come before my committee before he leaves for the United States”.
Mr Doughty said: “I am sure that we will consider any request that my right honourable friend makes in due course in the normal way in which we consider requests from her committee.”
The FCDO has been approached for comment.
Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates reports that the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office, Ollie Robbins, has written to Lord Mandelson to ask a series of questions.
These questions include: When did you last meet Jeffrey Epstein before he took his own life? When did you last accept hospitality? What were your last business dealings with?
It is not known if Lord Mandelson will respond.
👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Will Lord Mandelson have to be replaced in US?
Meanwhile, Labour MPs Andy McDonald, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Kim Johnson have called for Sir Keir to sack Lord Mandelson.
The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, also urged the prime minister to remove Lord Mandelson without further delay – warning his “reputation is now on the line”.
But a source within diplomatic circles who has known Lord Mandelson told Sky News correspondent Rhiannon Mills they believe the US ambassador “can ride it out”.
“Unless there is worse to come, if he can stomach the attention, he can ride it out. In the UK residence in Washington, with its grounds and security, it is easy to hide away,” the source said.
“The most important part of Mandelson’s role as ambassador is his relationship with the US administration, they will not be the least bit fussed about this. They have bigger problems.
“This isn’t going to be a big story in the States as the focus is on Trump and dozens of other prominent American figures. The US press have lots of other fish to chase”.
MPs are demanding Peter Mandelson appears on British soil to give evidence on his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
But there is frustration within parliament at Lord Mandelson’s ability to avoid scrutiny, as Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to sack him as ambassador to the US over his links to the deceased billionaire.
It comes after it emerged the Labour peer – who has said he wishes he’d never met Epstein – had written him a 2003 birthday note in which he described him as his “best pal”.
According to reports in Bloomberg and The Sun, he also sent Epstein messages of support while he was being investigated for sex offences, telling him he was “following you closely and here whenever you need”.
Politics Hub: Follow the latest from Westminster
Sky News has learned that the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee of MPs made a request to hear from Lord Mandelson after he was appointed by Sir Keir last year, but this was blocked by the Foreign Office.
Lord Mandelson‘s status as a member of the House of Lords means the committee cannot force him to appear before them. People overseas can also not be compelled to give evidence.
Committees have the power to summon people to give evidence, and find them in contempt of parliament if they do not comply.
Lord Mandelson’s failure to appear adds to the controversy around a lack of government transparency sparked by the decision to not let national security adviser Jonathan Powell give evidence to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.
Conservative MP and FAC member Aphra Brandreth is the only person on the committee to publicly call for Lord Mandelson to give them evidence on the ambassador’s links to Epstein.
Sky News understands that others on the committee are keen for Lord Mandelson to speak to them but have decided to not go public. As the committee make-up mirrors that of parliament, most members are Labour MPs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Beth’s breakdown: PM grilled over Mandelson
Read more on Mandelson:
Starmer backs his ambassador
What was his relationship with Epstein?
The disconnect between his claims and letters to Epstein
Ms Brandreth said in a statement: “At a time of huge instability around the globe, it’s vital that the UK’s ambassador to the US is focused completely on his job
“As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee I would welcome the opportunity to question Lord Mandelson on his ability to carry out his duties to the UK.”
She shared a letter written by fellow Tory MP and former Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns.
In the letter, Ms Kearns called on current chair Dame Emily Thornberry to summon Lord Mandelson, question him and put the concerns of MPs to him.
Ms Kearns also wants to know what questions Dame Emily has asked the Foreign Office since the appointment of Lord Mandelson, and to find out “how substantial” Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was.
Ms Kearns told Sky News: “Months and months have passed with no action from the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, instead there has been an unsettling silence from her on all things Mandelson.
“I would have summoned Mandelson long ago, it’s the chair’s duty to get the answers parliament deserves. It’s all too evident Thornberry has long been focused on her next role, not the one she’s been elected and paid to do.”
So far, there has been no response from Dame Emily, who took part in a hustings for her campaign to be the next Labour deputy leader on Wednesday night.
Some MPs on the committee are concerned this race has distracted Dame Emily from her role on the committee, though she looks unlikely to make it into the next round.
In January, Dame Emily raised Lord Mandelson’s appointment with Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty.
She said the appointment was “inspired” – before asking the minister and government to “allow Lord Mandelson the time to come before my Committee before he leaves for the United States”.
👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈
Mr Doughty said: “I am sure that we will consider any request that my right honourable friend makes in due course in the normal way in which we consider requests from her Committee.”
The FCDO has been approached for comment.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment11 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024