Politics

Sir Keir Starmer says election is ‘moment country has been waiting for’ as he declares ‘it is time for change’

Published

6 months ago

May 22, 2024

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Sir Keir Starmer has said the “opportunity for change” will define the general election on 4 July.

The Labour leader said Rishi Sunak’s announcement was the “moment the country needs and has been waiting for”.

Speaking in central London, Sir Keir reiterated the six “first steps” for government he outlined last week and added: “It will feel like a long campaign… but no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about.”

He told the watching nation that over the last four years “we have changed the Labour Party” and “returned it once more to the service of working people.”

General election latest: Sunak announces 4 July vote

“All we ask now – humbly – is to do exactly the same for our country and return Britain to the service of working people.

“It is time for change.”

Sir Keir’s words came moments after Mr Sunak ended months of speculation about the timing of the general election and confirmed it would take place on 4 July.

In a statement outside Downing Street in the pouring rain, the prime minister said he had met with the King to request the dissolution of parliament.

“The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on the 4th of July”, he said.

The prime minister took aim at Sir Keir – who, according to polls, is on course to succeed him in Downing Street – saying he has shown “time and time again that he will take the easy way out and do anything to get power”.

Referring to the now-abandoned pledges Sir Keir made to Labour members in his bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as leader, Mr Sunak said: “If he was happy to abandon all the promises he made to become Labour leader once he got the job, how can you know that he won’t do exactly the same thing if he were to become prime minister?”

The election announcement came off the back off official figures showing that inflation has come down to 2.3% in April, with Mr Sunak’s decision to call and election for next month suggesting he hopes to capitalise on the improvement in the economic landscape.

Mr Sunak said the reduction in inflation was “proof that the plan and priorities I set out are working”.

However, he said “this hard earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning”, and asked the public: “The question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our country?

“Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future and to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one. With no plan and no certainty.”

Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, responded positively to the election announcement and urged voters to “kick this appalling Conservative government out of office”.

“For years the Conservative Party has taken voters for granted and lurched from crisis to crisis while the problems facing the country are getting so much worse,” he said.

“All because this Conservative government is more interested in fighting between themselves than standing up for the needs of the country.”

John Swinney, the newly appointed leader of the SNP, said: “I look forward to leading the SNP in this election.

“This is the moment to remove the Tory government and put Scotland first by voting SNP. People in Scotland know we stand up for them and protect them from the damage done by Westminster.”

While the opposition parties welcomed news of an election, there were signs of jitters within Tory ranks – with one backbench MP calling Mr Sunak’s decision a “massive gamble”.

“It seems odd to jump the gun”, they said.

“It’s a massive gamble – but we’re now in play and need to go and win this.”

Politics

California judge rules DAO members liable under partnership laws

Published

4 hours ago

November 19, 2024

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California judge rules DAO members liable under partnership laws

A16z Crypto’s Miles Jennings posted on X that the ruling is a “huge blow” to decentralized governance.

Politics

Thousands of farmers to descend on Downing Street to protest against inheritance tax changes

Published

5 hours ago

November 19, 2024

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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.

‘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

‘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.

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”.