Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, who is seeking to become Britain’s Prime Minister in the upcoming election, has promised a government that is both pro-business and pro-worker. He aims to restore stability after years of economic and political turmoil, criticizing the Conservative Party’s “desperate era of gestures and gimmicks.” Starmer launched the Labour Party’s election manifesto in Manchester, emphasizing their goal to “stop the chaos, turn the page, and start to rebuild our country.”
The upcoming election will see voters elect lawmakers for all 650 seats in the House of Commons, with the leader of the party that can command a majority becoming the Prime Minister. Labour currently holds a double-digit lead in opinion polls over the governing Conservatives, who have gone through two prime ministers in quick succession in 2022. Starmer, a former chief prosecutor, is presenting a steady and competent image as he aims to position Labour as a party of the stable center, moving away from high-tax and big-spending policies of the past.
Starmer’s economic approach has been described as cautious but has won support from many business leaders. He outlined Labour’s platform as a manifesto for wealth creation with several long-term goals, including establishing a new industrial policy and building new homes. The party pledged to improve relations with the European Union, ruling out a return to the bloc’s single market and customs union. Measures to increase tax revenue include closing loopholes related to tax statuses and extending a windfall tax on energy companies.
At the manifesto launch, Starmer introduced voters affected by various issues, such as a family living in cramped conditions and a man with terminal cancer campaigning for faster treatment. The Conservative Party, on the other hand, released its manifesto earlier, focusing on promises to cut taxes and reduce immigration if reelected. Starmer emphasized that his campaign is focused on serious issues and not about last-minute gimmicks to gain votes, saying, “I’m running as a candidate to be prime minister, not a candidate to run the circus.”
Starmer’s pledge not to raise personal taxes under a Labour government was met with skepticism from the Conservatives, who labeled Labour as the high-tax party. Despite some members of his party wanting bolder change, Starmer has opted for a cautious approach to public spending after years of sluggish growth. Labour’s platform includes ambitious goals such as developing a 10-year infrastructure strategy and building 1.5 million new homes, along with measures to increase tax revenue and create a more stable economic environment. Starmer’s message revolves around transforming Labour into a party that can create wealth while facing hard choices about public spending.
