We're party of wealth creation, Starmer tells voters

SIR Keir Starmer vowed today to “relight the fires of renewal” across Britain so that the nation’s children are once again better off than their parents.

- Nicholas Cecil and Rachael Burford

Launching Labour’s manifesto in Manchester, he sought to reassure millions of voters across Middle England with a pledge of “stability” after years of Tory “chaos”. He also offered a message of hope with a “bond that reaches through the generations and says this country will be better for your children”.

Declaring Labour to be the “party of wealth creation”, after the political shackles of the Jeremy Corbyn years, Sir Keir outlined his Plan to Change Britain based on economic growth.

His party would be “pro-business and pro-worker”, he stressed, ruling out some tax rises, including on VAT, income tax and national insurance.

However, his blueprint for Britain was heavily dependent on restoring healthy economic growth which has recently been elusive as the country has been hit by the Covid pandemic, Putin’s war in Ukraine and the political and economic turmoil of recent years, particularly the brief Liz Truss administration.

The speech, which was expected to last around 20 minutes, did not include any firework announcements. Instead, it sought to ram home Labour’s core message that it would restore stability.

Sir Keir was expected to say: “We have a plan in this manifesto. A total change in direction. Laser-focused on our cause — stability, growth, investment and reform. A government back in the service of your family, ready to change Britain.”