Sir Keir Starmer to announce ‘first steps’ for government in ramping up of election campaign
Sir Keir Starmer will outline his “first steps” for government at a launch event to kickstart the next phase of Labour’s campaign for the general election.
The party leader will host the event in the potential battleground of Essex, where he will pledge to build on the five “missions” he set out last year.
Among the first steps “to change Britain” will be Labour’s pledge to deliver economic stability, cut NHS waiting times, launch a new border security command, set up publicly-owned energy firm Great British Energy, crack down on antisocial behaviour and recruit 6,500 new teachers.
Sir Keir told his shadow cabinet that, following a successful set of May local elections that saw the party steal the West Midlands mayor title from the Tories, the “next phase” of the party’s strategy was “crucially important”.
Politics latest: Asylum seekers detained for removal to Rwanda
Alongside the launch will be an advertising campaign – described by a party spokesman as the largest spend since the previous general election – that will see the Labour leader appear on ad vans and billboards alongside the six steps.
However, a spokesman stressed the steps will not be the “sum total” of the party’s election offer.
Sir Keir told members of his frontbench that “each of the first steps would chime with voters’ aspirations, show a clear set of priorities and a powerful direction of travel”.
“Stability is change”, he also told them.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Starmer unveils Labour ‘missions’
The Tories hit out at what they said was Labour’s “sixteenth relaunch”, adding that it “won’t amount to a hill of beans”.
The “steps” will be provided to voters in physical form, but Labour steered away from directly comparing this to the pledge card given out by Sir Tony Blair ahead of the 1997 general election.
Read more from Sky News:
Slovakia’s PM in hospital after ‘assassination attempt’
Labour launches selection process to replace Jeremy Corbyn at general election
Separate Scottish and Welsh launches are expected in coming weeks with offers aimed at voters in the devolved nations, the party said.
Richard Holden, the Tory Party chair, said: “Sir Keir Starmer’s been Labour leader for four years but still has no coherent plan.
? Listen above then tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts ?
“Labour’s asylum amnesty, colossal unfunded spending commitments, and higher taxes would take us back to square one and it’s clear his sixteenth relaunch won’t amount to a hill of beans.”
“Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives are 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.”
Though the House of Representatives may soon be able to consider the three bills, President Donald Trump didn’t get all Republicans to fall in line to support the legislation.
The EU has sanctioned multiple entities for using cryptocurrencies to evade restrictions, channel funds, and propagate pro‑Russian disinformation and election interference.
Politics
Starmer says former Tory ministers have ‘serious questions to answer’ over Afghan data breach
Sir Keir Starmer has said former Tory ministers have “serious questions to answer” about how the names of Afghans who worked with UK forces were exposed.
Nearly 7,000 Afghan nationals are being relocated to the UK after their names were accidentally sent in an email in February 2022, when Boris Johnson was prime minister, but the leak was only discovered by the British military in August 2023, when Rishi Sunak was PM.
A super-injunction, preventing the reporting of the mistake, was imposed that year in an attempt to prevent the Taliban from finding out about the leak.
The Conservative government at the time then started transporting thousands of Afghans to the UK in secret as they were in danger.
On Tuesday, the injunction was lifted.
Politics latest: Starmer hammered over unexpected inflation rise
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Victim of Afghan data breach speaks to Sky
Kicking off Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said: “Ministers who served under the party opposite have serious questions to answer about how this was ever allowed to happen.
“The chair of the defence committee has indicated that he intends to hold further inquiries.
“I welcome that and hope that those who are in office at the time will welcome that scrutiny.”
The data breach saw a defence official accidentally release details of almost 19,000 people seeking to flee Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch avoided mentioning the data breach, but Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said it was “shocking” how it had been kept secret for three years.
Sir Ed said the prime minister will have the Lib Dems’ support if he decides to pursue a public inquiry.
Mr Healey’s Tory predecessor, Sir Ben Wallace, said he makes “no apology” for applying for the initial four-month injunction and insisted it was “not a cover-up”.
The scheme, which had been kept under wraps until yesterday, has so far cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
However, the total cost to the taxpayer of existing schemes to assist Afghans who are deemed eligible for British support, as well as the additional cost from the breach, will come to at least £6bn.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Afghans being relocated after data breach
Earlier, Defence Secretary John Healey told Sky News he is “deeply uncomfortable” with the government using a super-injunction to keep the massive data breach hidden.
He said: “I’m really deeply uncomfortable with the idea that a government applies for a super-injunction.
“If there are any [other] super-injunctions in place, I just have to tell you – I don’t know about them. I haven’t been read into them.
“The important thing here now is that we’ve closed the scheme.”
Mr Healey was informed of the breach while in opposition, and earlier this year he commissioned a review that led to the injunction being lifted.
He said “accountability starts now” and added Labour had to deal with the risks, court papers, intelligence assessments and different schemes when they came to power last summer before they could lift the injunction.
-
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
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike