Keir Starmer defends praising Thatcher in pitch for Tories

BBC News says Sir Keir Starmer has defended crediting Margaret Thatcher as a leader who effected “meaningful change”.

The Labour leader said Baroness Thatcher set loose Britain’s “natural entrepreneurialism” in an article for the Sunday Telegraph.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House, he later said he had wanted to stress her “sense of purpose” – but it did not mean he agreed with her.

Sir Keir also praised Labour PMs Tony Blair and Clement Attlee.

In a clear pitch to Conservative voters, Sir Keir highlighted immigration and small boat crossings in his article as “matters of serious public concern”.

“Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them,” Sir Keir wrote.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67604830