Keir Starmer promises to take back control
Spectator (UK)Nov 26, 2022
The Facts
In his first speech of 2023, leader of the opposition Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer promised a "decade of national renewal" if he wins the next general election.
Speaking in Stratford, east London, Starmer denied that the UK's economic problems could be fixed by more spending, stating that his intent should not be taken as code for Labour "getting its big government chequebook out again." Starmer's message comes a day after current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's own speech, in which he promised to halve inflation this year.
The Spin
Right narrative
Starmer's speech was not only severely lacking in policy detail, but was spearheaded by the weak message that a government led by him would not make matters any worse. We only know what Labour will specifically not do, as Starmer has chosen to emulate the Blairite strategy of being impossible to pin down rather than standing for anything.
Left narrative
While the view that no one knows what Starmer stands for is pushed by right-wing media, in reality Labour has adopted a host of resolute policy positions. As history shows, Labour has always moved to the left and sought more active intervention at times of economic instability. Starmer critics may be in for a surprise come 2024 over the unorthodox response to the UK's economic weakness that this Labour leader may well have in store.
