06/13/2024 – 10:23
Labor leader Keir Starmer, the favorite to become the new British prime minister after the July 4 election, described economic growth as a priority in Manchester this Thursday (13), presenting his election platform.
“Wealth creation is our top priority, economic growth is our main goal,” the Labor leader said in his speech.
Starmer, 61, returned to centrist positions after the defeat of his Labor predecessor Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 election, with a clear advantage over his rival, incumbent Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“I've changed the Labor Party and I'm ready to change the UK. We can rebuild the foundations of stability and trust them to rebuild the country”, Starmer added this Thursday.
Recent polls have Starmer on 45% of the vote, ahead of Sunak on 20%, indicating the Labor leader could end 14 years of Conservative government.
“Labour's first steps for change are to immediately repair the damage caused by 14 years of chaos and Conservative collapse,” Starmer said, although he admitted that “we can't pretend everything will be fixed overnight”.
– “Economic Stability” –
The Labor leader said in his speech that his first steps, should he become government, would “bring about economic stability, reduce time and waiting lists for the National Health Service and launch a new Border Security Command”.
Starmer sought to reassure voters with this latest promise about the problem of irregular immigration across the English Channel, which separates France and the United Kingdom.
The Labor leader wants to scrap the Conservative government's controversial plan to send irregular migrants to Rwanda, although he wants to reduce the number of people coming to the UK.
On the other hand, the Labor Party will reaffirm British support for Ukraine against Russia in the event of an election victory and believes that the recognition of a Palestinian state should be part of a peace process.
In his speech this Thursday, he criticized the “mess” left by 14 years of Conservative governments, massive political and economic instability, the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union and five prime ministers in his 14 years in government. In addition to rising inflation and cost of living.
– “Reliable Long Term Plan” –
“Make no mistake, the challenges will not disappear overnight. If Labor wins, we will not have a magic wand. But what we do have, what this plan represents, is a credible long-term plan,” he argued.
Questioned by an environmentalist early in his speech, quickly removed from the room, Keir Starmer pointed out that Labor had “ceased to be the party of opposition” and had become “the party of government”.
According to the plan presented by Starmer, Labor wants to create a fund dedicated to investments in the industries of the future, in addition to a system to finance the transition to green energy. The program also expects to hire 6,500 new teachers.
The presentation of Labour's election platform came two days after the Conservatives promised voters tax cuts.
Despite Labor's substantial lead in the polls, Starmer continues to face accusations from the Conservatives that his party will spend public money recklessly and raise taxes.
