British opposition leader Keir Starmer on Tuesday promised a “decade of national renewal” if Labor wins the next election, to “heal” the country from the “wounds” inflicted by 13 years of Conservative rule.
Far from the divisions displayed the previous week by the Tories, Labor gave the image of a party confident about the elections expected by January 2025, during their annual congress in Liverpool, in the northwest of England .
But beyond the unpopularity of Rishi Sunak’s government, Keir Starmer’s mission was to silence the doubts that persist about his ability to pose as a credible leader, in order to attract voters outside his party to seize from 10 Downing Street and lead a United Kingdom mired in a deep cost of living crisis.
In his speech, he called on his side to give the British “the government they deserve.” “Let’s turn our backs on the endless decline of the Tories, with a decade of national renewal.”
“People turn to us because they want our wounds to heal and we are the healers,” insisted the man who took over as leader of the party in 2020.
He promised a “reforming state” but warned that the task was going to be difficult: “There is no magic wand.”
In contrast to Rishi Sunak’s recent setbacks on certain environmental measures, Keir Starmer promised to “accelerate” the climate, and, in terms of housing, to build “new towns”.
Glitter spray
Labor is trying to embody a credible alternative and Keir Starmer has refocused the party, far from the time when, led by the very left-wing Jeremy Corbyn, Labor experienced one of its worst electoral defeats in 2019.
Labor “is no longer the party of protest” but a party that “serves” the country, launched Keir Starmer, warmly applauded when he stressed that Labor had gotten rid of anti-Semitism within it “by the root “.
The 61-year-old former lawyer remained impassive when his arrival at the podium was disrupted by the burst on stage of a demonstrator, wearing a t-shirt suggesting a link with a group campaigning for reform of the electoral system – which shouted “real democracy is led by the citizens”, and threw glitter before being expelled manu militari.
“Protest or power, that’s why we changed our party,” said the leader of the Labor Party, taking off his jacket.
” Hope “
The activists seemed rather convinced after the speech of their leader, accused by some of being too cautious.
“I thought it was a very good speech and it gives me a lot of hope for the future,” rejoiced Kate Sheridan, a 57-year-old activist interviewed by AFP.
She considers the promises to build 1.5 million homes in new towns or the investments in infrastructure announced by Keir Starmer “realistic”.
“That’s what I wanted to hear,” says John Barnes, a 56-year-old activist, who particularly remembers “the feeling of national renewal which has manifested itself strongly” and which “will really touch a lot of people.” “.
“I can’t use the word ‘inspiring’ but there were a lot of good measures”, in this speech, tempers Fiona English, a 71-year-old feminist activist who defines herself as being from the left wing of the party. “I have hope if the party respects what it said and promised during this congress.”
Since Sunday, Labor officials have distilled some elements of their upcoming election platform, such as measures to strengthen workers’ rights and a £1.5 billion (€1.7 billion) plan for the public health service, the NHS, in crisis after years of austerity.
Labor also plans to put an end to the conservative government’s plan, still blocked by the courts, to expel migrants who arrived illegally to Rwanda.
“The country needs a Labor government. The program announced by Keir for jobs and investment is essential. As always, the devil will be in the details,” said Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham.