I’m fed up of politicians calling for radical changes to UK, Keir Starmer says
Keir Starmer has said he is ‘fed up’ of politicians who believe radical, structural change is needed to fix the UK and get it back on track.
Last year saw the rise of populists such as Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and new Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who argue for a fundamental shake-up of the way the country is run.
But in an interview with Metro earlier today, the Prime Minister rejected their stance, suggesting they were peddling ‘shortcuts’ and ‘easy answers’ while comparing them to Liz Truss.
Starmer was visiting a community centre in Reading to talk about his government’s efforts to cut the cost of living – including free childcare and the freeze in rail fares.
Asked what he would say to Brits who wanted to see full-blown structural change to solve the cost of living crisis rather than smaller measures targeting specific areas, the PM said: ‘The most important thing is economic stability.
‘Liz Truss thought she’d have a radical change by taking no notice of the financial institutions that create stability.
‘Everybody paid the price, and I’m not going to inflict that kind of experiment on people ever again, whether that’s from the left in politics who pretend there are easy solutions or the right in politics who pretend there are easy solutions.’
He continued: ‘I am fed up and I think millions of people are fed up with politicians who suggest there are shortcuts, easy answers, things that don’t need to be thought through.
‘What happens, as Liz Truss proved, is that every household then pays the price. I’m not prepared for a Labour government to inflict that on the people of this country.’
But Luke Tryl, director of pollster More in Common, said his research shows Starmer’s approach could alienate voters who are clamouring for more dramatic action.
He told Metro: ‘The danger of Starmer’s rejection of deeper structural change is that it reinforces a sense he is defending a broken status quo, or is unwilling to do what it takes to make people’s lives better.
‘It risks the PM appealing only to more technocrat minded voters who make up a tiny slice of the electorate.
‘Brits certainly don’t want a repeat of the mini budget but they do want to see the PM throwing everything he can to bring down the cost of living.
‘Demonstrating the government is trying to do all it can would go a long way to convincing people that when Labour ran on change, they meant it.’
The trip to Emmer Green Community Centre this morning was Starmer’s first visit since the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and jailed him in New York.
However, the PM spent little time discussing the major news before speaking to the media, saying: ‘We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that for most people, most families across the country, the single most important issue is the cost of living.’
He said the coming year will be about ‘turning the corner’ and ‘feeling the difference that the Labour government makes’.
Starmer added: ‘I know for many people it’s been really tough.
‘I’m not pretending this is all a silver bullet, I’m not complacent about this, but month by month by month, people will begin to feel the difference that these measures make.’
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