Starmer parks tanks on Tory territory with wealth pitch

Labour leader delivers plan for change’ in manifesto launch but critics question where the money would come from

- DAVID MADDOX

Sir Keir Starmer rolled up his sleeves and declared that Labour is “no longer the party of tax and spend” but instead is the “party of wealth creation”.

The declaration came as Sir Keir unveiled Labour’s manifesto at the Co-op headquarters in Manchester in a noticeably polished and confident performance. The event had the presidential style Labour has settled on for its campaign, with Sir Keir front and centre in a manifesto titled: “My plan for change.”

In a deliberate move to reassure Tory voters and take control of the centre ground, the Labour leader pivoted from the socialism he supported in 2019 under Jeremy Corbyn to the “changed” Labour promising to bring stability and end “Tory chaos”.

In a highly symbolic move, Iceland boss Richard Walker, who defected from the Tories to Labour last year, spoke ahead of Sir Keir, arguing: “Only Labour can change this country’s trajectory from dismal economic performance.” He added: “I like what I see in Labour’s plan to ... run the most pro-growth most business-friendly Treasury our country has ever seen.”

But questions remained about how Sir Keir and his shadow cabinet will pay for their promises in power with claims that he, like the Tories, is being dishonest about the real challenges ahead.

Also, in a move that offers Rishi Sunak some slim hope, Labour confirmed that they would take the UK to its highest-ever tax burden with £8.6bn in extra levies. The admission could fuel Tory claims of an extra £2,000 on each household, an attack line Mr Sunak used to effect in the first debate although it was subsequently questioned by the Treasury’s most senior official.