Keir Starmer Promises "Mission Driven" Government As He Sets Out Labour Priorities
Keir Starmer has promised to deliver a "mission driven" government (alamy)
3 min read
Labour leader Keir Starmer has said he wants an end to "sticking plaster politics" as he set out the foundation of his party's policies in a set piece speech.
Speaking in Manchester, Starmer said his plan would help the country "get its confidence, its hope and its future back" as he delivered his plan to grow the economy and improve public services.
The Labour leader said he wanted to "end sticking plaster politics and get this country back on its feet" during the major policy speech, saying Westminster was too focussed on "short term fixations" and accused the government of "lurching from crisis to crisis".
In a document setting out the details of the plans, Labour said its five key priorities would be to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7, make the UK a clean energy "superpower", reform the National Health Service to make it "fit for the future", make Britain's streets safer by reforming the police and justice system and breaking down the barriers to opportunity.
Speaking about his ambitions for government, Starmer said: "Some nation is going to lead the world in offshore wind. Why not Britain?
"Some nation will create the first generation of quantum computers. Why not Britain?
"Some nation will design medicines personalised to match our unique DNA. Why not Britain?"
Starmer claimed his "bold" pledges could seem unrealistic, but insisted they would be possible, and pointing to his clean energy pledge, he said: "Zero carbon British electricity by 2030. A huge goal which will allow us to accelerate to net zero.
"Make no mistake. This goal would turn Britain into a clean energy superpower. It will put us ahead of any major economy in the world."
He added: "I’m already talking to CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, unions, energy workers about how we get this done."
Promising to deliver a "mission driven government", Starmer said that every business around the world had a "strategy" for success and said he believed it was necessary to take the same approach to government.
On the economy, Starmer said his ambition to increase growth would be based on "sustainable" and would be "powered by good jobs and stronger productivity in every part of the country”.
He added: "If you take missions, let’s take that first one — the highest sustained growth in the G7. That is going to be tough. Nobody is going to say: ‘That’s vague, that’s something that is going to be easily achievable.’
"An NHS actually fit for the future, so that is not just to get through this winter but the next 75 years.
"Safe streets, removing the barriers to opportunity for every child, everywhere. And then a clean, energy superpower, which means clean electricity by 2030."
He added: “Again, that is a sharp intake of breath. When I speak to CEOs and others about this, they say: ‘Mm. That’s going to be going some, Keir.’
"So the missions are not vague. They are very clear, they are ambitious."
Labour has said the five pledges would guide their creation of its next general election manifesto and would form the principles of its agenda if the party becomes the next government.
The set piece echoes Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s New Year speech to announce his own five priorities for the year, including reducing the deficit, improving growth, addressing issues in the health service and reducing the numbers of migrants crossing the Channel.
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