Keir Starmer has warned that a new Labour government would have to stave off a rise of the populist right by urgently restoring faith in British politics through "deeds, not words" and making a material difference to people's lives.
As the election campaign enters its final days, the Labour leader said that while "hope has been kicked out" of people, his plans for economic growth across the country, the NHS and the transition to renewables could help bring it back.
He vowed to bring an end to "divisive and toxic" culture wars that have beset the country if he makes it to No 10 and hold his ministers to high standards, with even the most senior figures sacked for serious breaches.
But in an interview with the Guardian, Starmer warned that a failure to address the disillusionment in British politics could result in a rise of the hard right as witnessed in France and other European countries.
"It's no good saying: 'Well, I don't like the rise of populism and nationalism.' You have to understand why that's happening," he said. "It's based in this disaffection, this sense that politics cannot be a force for good and you can't trust politicians." Starmer and the other party leaders, including Rishi Sunak, will spend the final few days of the campaign traversing the country, before what is expected to be a once-in-a-generation result ushering in a Labour government.
The final Opinium poll for the Observer showed Labour retained its lead over the Conservatives unchanged on 40% while the Tories are on 20%-enough to deliver a large majority if replicated on polling day.
Denne historien er fra July 01, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 01, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Dovid Efune Why frontrunner to buy Telegraph is causing alarm
A little over a decade ago Dovid Efune was juggling the editorship of the New York-based Jewish publication the Algemeiner Journal while also handling publicity for Israel's first world boxing champion.
Starmer signals huge increase in UK green investment
Keir Starmer has signalled that his government will drastically increase its green investment plans in an attempt to avoid a rerun of 1980s-style industrial decline by safeguarding jobs in heartland manufacturing communities.
Bet365 saved up to £140m in tax from boss's charity fund
A charity set up by the billionaire boss of Bet365, Denise Coates, may have saved her online gambling empire more in tax than the foundation has so far given to good causes, a Guardian analysis suggests.
Evidence of boy's abuse prompts review of Menendez killers case
Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new evidence in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez to determine whether they should be serving life sentences for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the city's district attorney said Thursday.
Obama to hit the Harris campaign trail in blitz on key battlegrounds
Barack Obama will go on the road to campaign for Kamala Harris next week as she and her Republican challenger, Donald Trump, prepare to crisscross the battleground states that will probably decide the 2024 presidential election, now just one month away.
Packham joins activist body but says 'stop disruption'
Climate activists need to stop blocking roads and start holding fossil fuel executives personally to account, Chris Packham has said, shortly after being appointed to the board of one of the biggest activist funds in the world.
Antarctica 'greens' at dramatic rate as heating brings profound change to icy continent
Plant cover across the Antarctic Peninsula has soared more than tenfold over the last few decades, as the climate crisis heats up the icy continent.
Renaissance men Midlife makeovers steal the spotlight at Paris fashion shows
Twenty-something pop singers are usually the default stars of fashion week. But it was older men who unexpectedly stole the spotlight at the latest Paris shows.
Inquest into baby death in 2014 told of years of 'dishonesty' by hospital
A grieving mother has told an inquest how secretive, evasive and \"patronising\" behaviour by NHS staff was \"traumatic\" and led to her spending years seeking the truth about her daughter's death.
Royal Navy apologises for 'intolerable' misogyny exposed on submarines
The head of the Royal Navy has issued an unreserved apology for \"intolerable\" misogyny within the Submarine Service, after a slew of investigations exposed sexual harassment, bullying and assault of women within its ranks.