Sir Keir Starmer unveils promises to ‘change Britain’ – but warns it may take 10 years
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to change the country “for the better” if Labour wins the next election – but warned his plan for “national renewal” may take a decade to see through.
The leader was speaking at a major pre-election party event in Essex, setting out the “first steps” of a Labour government before the public heads to the polls later this year.
The pledges are to:
– Deliver economic stability
– Cut NHS waiting lists
– Crack down on anti-social behaviour
– Recruit 6,500 new teachers
– Launch a new border security command
– Set up publicly-owned Great British Energy
Sir Keir said the programme “is going to be hard” to achieve, adding that the public could expect to see the promises materialise within two terms of a Labour government
What are Labour’s pledges for government?
He said: “We can deliver this over five or 10 years, a decade of national renewal”.
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The headline speech came as Labour continues to dominate the polls over the Conservatives, and after a set of local elections that saw them win key battleground seats – including taking the West Midlands mayoralty from their rivals.
But there are still questions over whether Sir Keir himself or his party’s policies will be popular enough with the public to secure victory when the general election is called – making today’s speech, and the “evolution of its traditional pledge card” made famous during Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide win, an important moment in the campaign.
Along with the NHS, crime and education pledges, the leader reiterated his promises to deliver “economic stability” – including a pledge to keep taxes “as low as possible” – and to set up a publicly-owned power company, Great British Energy.
Sir Keir also highlighted his sixth priority for government, which he launched last week – setting up a new Border Security Command with hundreds of new specialist investigators, using counter-terror powers “to smash the criminal boat gangs” behind Channel crossings.
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Starmer unveils Labour ‘missions’
In what is being dubbed “Labour’s doorstep offer to the British people”, a fresh advertising campaign is now being launched as the party ramps up its election offering.
A party spokesman described it as the largest spend since the previous general election that will see the Labour leader appear on ad vans and billboards, alongside his six priorities – though they stressed those pledges would not be the “sum total” of the party’s election offer.
Presenting the “first steps” pledges on a card to the room, Sir Keir said: “So here we are. One card, six steps, in your hand, a plan to change the country.
“This is a message that we can take to every doorstep across the country and make the argument that decline is not inevitable, politics can make a difference.
“Britain will have a better future and you can choose it with Labour. Stop the chaos with Labour. Turn the page with Labour. Return politics to service with Labour.
“And with patience, with determination, with these first steps, we can rebuild our country with Labour.”
Delivery will matter on Starmer’s key pledges
The six individual pledges announced today set out Labour’s priorities.
But delivering on them will be key to building trust in politics, which a recent Sky News poll revealed was miserably low.
Sir Keir Starmer described this as the first steps in a “mission”. Big, bold change, he said.
But Labour seem to be making bold promises, while trying not to promise too much.
Sir Keir’s refusal in the Q&A after his speech to put a number on how many extra NHS appointments they could deliver in the first few weeks of a Labour government, for example, goes to the heart of their fear.
The potential problem is that Labour’s pledges are broadly similar to the Conservative ones; migration, economy, health – the usual big election issues.
But voters will want to see clearly how the parties differ.
But the Tories hit out at what they said was Labour’s “16th relaunch”, adding it “won’t amount to a hill of beans”.
Chair of the party Richard Holden said: “Today’s speech was devoid of any plan for Britain.
“Sir Keir Starmer is a serial promise breaker who doesn’t have the courage or conviction to stick to a single a pledge he has ever made.
“His unfunded spending, higher taxes and amnesty for illegal migrants would take Britain back to square one.”
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The SNP’s deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black also claimed the speech was “was full of broken promises and empty slogans”.
She added: “The problem for Sir Keir is that he has u-turned on nearly every policy he has ever promised – so it’s little wonder the public don’t trust a single promise he now makes.”
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Thousands of farmers to descend on Downing Street to protest against inheritance tax changes
Thousands of farmers from across the UK are expected to gather outside Downing Street today – in the biggest protest yet against the government’s changes to inheritance tax rules.
The reforms, announced in last month’s budget, will mean farms worth over £1m will be subject to 20% inheritance tax from April 2026.
Farmers say that will lead to land being sold to pay the tax bill, impact food security and the future of British farming.
The Government insists it is “committed” to the farming industry but has had to make “difficult decisions”.
Farmers from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England will arrive in London to hear speeches from agricultural leaders.
Sky News understands TV presenter and farm owner Jeremy Clarkson, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey will also address crowds.
Protestors will then march around Parliament Square.
A sign in a field by the M40 near Warwick, protesting the changes to inheritance tax rules in the recent budget. Pic: PA
‘It’s really worrying’
“It’s unfortunate, as Labour had originally said they would support farmers,” said fourth-generation farmer Will Weaver, who is attending today’s rally.
His 500-acre cow and sheep farm in South Gloucestershire has been in his family since 1939.
“We’ve probably buried our head in the sand a little bit. I think, back of a fag-packet rough estimates, tax is going to be north of half a million [pounds].”
The government is keen to stress that farmers will get a decade to pay the bill – but that comes as little comfort to Will: “It’s more than our profit in any year that we’ve had in the last 10 years. Dad’s saying we’ll have to sell something. I don’t know if we’ll be able to raise that sort of money through a mortgage. It’s really worrying.”
As anger grows, there continues to be disagreement between the National Farmer’s Union and the Government over how many farms will actually be impacted by the change.
The Treasury says only the wealthiest estates, around 500 of them, will have to pay under the new rules – claiming 72% of farms won’t be impacted.
But farmers say that calculation is incorrect – citing that DEFRA’s own figures show 66% of farms are valued at over £1m and that the government has undervalued many estates.
At the same time as the rally, the NFU is addressing 1,800 of its members in Westminster before they lobby MPs.
More on this story:
Farmers warn of food price hikes
Minister downplays risk of empty shelves if farmers strike
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The president of the National Farmers’ Union says farmers are feeling
‘Understanding has been betrayed’
Max Sealy represents the NFU Dairy Board in the South of England.
“We have a detailed job to do to explain why this is wrong not just for farming, not just for the countryside and not just for our families, but for the economy in general,” he said.
“This is a bad tax – it’s been badly implemented because it will affect growth productivity in the country.”
He told Sky News Labour made promises to farmers ahead of the election.
“Both Steve Reed and Keir Starmer came to our conference two years ago and told us farming wasn’t a business like any others and that he understood the long-term nature of farming – that understanding has been betrayed,” he said.
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And the government say:
In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said: “Farmers are the backbone of Britain, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by farming and rural communities in recent weeks. We are steadfast in our commitment to Britain’s farming industry because food security is national security.
“It’s why we are investing £5bn into farming over the next two years – the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production, rural economic growth and nature’s recovery in our country’s history.
“But with public services crumbling and a £22bn fiscal hole that this Government inherited, we have taken difficult decisions.
“The reforms to Agricultural Property Relief ensure that wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share to invest in our schools and health services that farmers and families in rural communities rely on.”
A Met Police spokesperson said it was “well prepared” for the protest and would have officers deployed to ensure it passes off “safely, lawfully and in a way that prevents serious disruption”.
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