Shaken, not stirred: Labour 'reset' gets muted response
The Independent|December 06, 2024
Sir Keir Starmer attempted to relaunch his struggling government yesterday with a new set of six "milestones" aimed at persuading voters he is making progress.
DAVID MADDOX
Shaken, not stirred: Labour 'reset' gets muted response

After five months in Downing Street beset by scandals over freebies and the loss of his chief of staff and a cabinet minister, the prime minister delivered a keynote speech at Pinewood Studios in a bid to steady his ship.

But in a sign of the difficult task ahead of him, his address to an event packed with Labour supporters was met with a muted audience response and little applause. It reflected the findings of a new national poll from Find Out Now UK that puts Labour in third place on 23 per cent, behind the Tories on 26 per cent and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on 24 per cent.

And the event was overshadowed by a warning from the Bank of England that his chancellor’s much-criticised Budget would lead to job losses.

Sir Keir tried to inject some energy into his flagging government by announcing that his “milestones” were raising living standards, building 1.5 million homes, putting 13,000 new police on the beat, giving children the best start in life, ending hospital backlogs, and securing green energy.

But in a 54-minute speech and question-and-answer session, he appeared quickly to come unstuck on some of his past promises. He was accused of watering down a previous pledge by stating that only 95 per cent of energy will be “clean” by 2030, rather than 100 per cent as before. Energy secretary Ed Miliband was deployed to provide reassurance that the plan had not changed.

And he downgraded the promise of economic growth – previously the centre of Labour’s election campaign – to a detail after “raising living standards”. There was barely a mention of a previous pledge to hire 6,500 new teachers, nor of domestic abuse despite representatives of campaign groups on the issue being in the audience.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 06, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 06, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE INDEPENDENTAlle anzeigen
Relax Kemi, history's on your side in the battle with Farage
The Independent

Relax Kemi, history's on your side in the battle with Farage

Conservative MPs are worried. They weren’t worried when Andrea Jenkyns, formerly one of their number, defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Unlike Starmer, Farage's charisma lights up the room
The Independent

Unlike Starmer, Farage's charisma lights up the room

The extraordinary poll showing Reform UK has overtaken the Labour Party in popularity can be attributed to many factors.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Okolie follows in footsteps of giants with weight switch
The Independent

Okolie follows in footsteps of giants with weight switch

Lawrence Okolie is a big lad, and he has always been a big lad.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Year of living dangerously: our season awards for 2024
The Independent

Year of living dangerously: our season awards for 2024

Kieran Jackson on best driver, biggest shock and much more

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Injury-plagued City cannot afford to slip up in Turin
The Independent

Injury-plagued City cannot afford to slip up in Turin

Manchester City's manager had his head in his hands.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Liverpool's imperfect win maintains perfect campaign
The Independent

Liverpool's imperfect win maintains perfect campaign

The mathematics of a complicated competition may remain unclear but one element is apparent.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Thames Water's operation is simply not good enough
The Independent

Thames Water's operation is simply not good enough

Deeply in debt and proposing huge price hikes, the troubled company is holding customers to ransom

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Murdoch loses court case in real-life 'Succession' battle
The Independent

Murdoch loses court case in real-life 'Succession' battle

Rupert Murdoch's attempt to give his eldest son control of his family media empire has been blocked by a US court after a lengthy legal battle with three of his other children.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
Netanyahu takes witness stand in corruption trial
The Independent

Netanyahu takes witness stand in corruption trial

Benjamin Netanyahu has become Israel’s first sitting prime minister to testify as a criminal defendant – having taken the witness stand in his lengthy corruption trial.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024
US shooting suspect shouts as he's dragged into court
The Independent

US shooting suspect shouts as he's dragged into court

Mangione: 'It's an insult to the intelligence of Americans'

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 11, 2024