Why Starmer used the 'S' word 13 times in one speech

Labour politicians used to agonise over whether to use what they called the “S” word and brand themselves a socialist party. Today Keir Starmer’s party has a new “S” word – security – and it could be a huge asset at the general election.

- ANDREW GRICE

Starmer mentioned it 13 times in a recent speech. Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, labels her vision “securonomics” in an “age of insecurity”. It was no coincidence she unveiled it in Washington, as it aligns Labour with Bidenomics and other centre-left parties in Germany and Australia trying to make their countries more economically secure and resilient.

It means “friend-shoring” (sourcing components and products from geopolitical allies to reduce dependency on China); industrial policy and putting resilience above efficiency. Reeves argued: “It is time for us to admit that globalisation, as we once knew it, is dead … We must foster new partnerships, between the free market and an active state and between countries across the world who share values and interests.”