Labour won’t spend its way out of the mess Tories created – Starmer
Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour “won’t be able to spend our way out” of the “mess” created by the Tories – even though he recognises the need for investment.
In a speech, he promised a “decade of national renewal” if he wins the next general election. But has said the party won’t be “getting its big government chequebook out again.”
The Conservatives accused the Labour leader of “yet another desperate relaunch attempt.”
PM Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday, promised to halve inflation, cut NHS waiting lists and tackle migrant boat crossings by the next general election – in 2025.
In Starmer’s speech, he pledged to create the “sort of hope you can build your future around.”
“That’s why showing how we can change the country is so important this year. We can give people a sense of possibility again, show light at the end of the tunnel.”
But he warns voters not to expect big increases in public spending.
“Of course, investment is required – I can see the damage the Tories have done to our public services as plainly as anyone,” he will say.
“But we won’t be able to spend our way out of their mess – it’s not as easy as that. There is no substitute for a robust private sector, creating wealth in every community.”
Rachel Reeves said the government needed to “work in partnership with business” on things like investing in renewable energy.
She said the health service needed “reform” as well as more money.
She added Labour would face a “tough inheritance” but the “cavalry is coming” with a future Labour government.
Government under pressure
The government is under pressure to contain the mass strikes sweeping the country amid a rising cost of living crisis and an NHS under pressure.
There has been a sharp rise in Covid and flu admissions, as well as staff shortages and strikes, and a backlog of treatment that built up during the pandemic.
Labour has pledged to deliver one of the biggest expansions of the NHS workforce” in its history, by scrapping non-dom tax status for wealthy individuals to pay for the training of thousands of new nurses, doctors and other health workers.
Sir Kier will set out more new policies over the next few weeks – the policies will form the heart of Labour’s next manifesto.
Labour’s poll lead is narrowing but the aggregated polls of voting intention still show Labour at 46% compared to 24% for the Tories. This is down from the peak of Labour at 52%of intended voters compared to 22% for the Tories in the final days of Liz Truss’ premiership.
