Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has underlined his party’s commitment to economic, border, and national security. In a speech at Lancing, Starmer assured that Labour has undergone significant transformation and can now be trusted with the country’s key issues.
Starmer, who succeeded Jeremy Corbyn in 2020, has sought to reposition Labour as a centrist party. Despite leading in opinion polls, he acknowledged lingering voter doubts. “I know there are countless people who haven’t decided how they’ll vote in this election. They’re fed up with the failure, chaos, and division of the Tories, but they still have questions about us: has Labour changed enough? Do I trust them with my money, our borders, our security? My answer is yes, you can, because I have changed this party permanently,” he said.
Starmer spoke about his working-class upbringing in Oxted, Surrey, where he was the first in his family to attend university. Reflecting on inflation in the 1970s, he said, “The rising cost of living can make you scared of the postman coming down the path: ‘will he bring another bill we can’t afford?’”
Reacting to Starmer’s speech, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed it as lacking plans for the future. Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden added that it had “no policy, no substance, and no plan.”
On 4th July, voters will elect lawmakers to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons. Labour holds a lead according to pollsters, but the party remains cautious after losing the last four elections.
