What Keir Starmer must tell Britain to win the general election | Andrew Marr | The New Statesman

The Labour leader has launched his general election campaign with his
"six first steps". But where do they lead?
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Rishi Sunak has accused Keir Starmer of having no plan. Andrew Marr argues that Keir Starmer and the Labour party need more than "first steps" or five missions, and lays out the key issues he believes will inspire voters to cast their ballot for Labour.
Read Andrew's column here: www.newstatesm...
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Andrew Marr is Political Editor for the New Statesman, and is one of the UK's most senior political journalists. He spent over 20 years at the BBC where he was Political Editor and hosted the wildly successful Andrew Marr show. He is now based in Westminster where he brings his deep experience of political reporting to his analysis of the most important events in UK politics. He also hosts Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC Radio.
Watch more New Statesman videos from Andrew Marr in this playlist: • Andrew Marr
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[@tonychinnery]

These First Steps are ridiculous. Britain is Europe's most unequal economy (and the biggest prison population to match), these steps do nothing to address this glaring problem. They are aspirations rather than steps. The only concrete thing in them is the setting up of a public energy company. Other than that they represent a Conservative continuation policy, including the typical right wing obsession with border security and anti-social behaviour (a product of inequality). The very best outcome in the general election would be a minority Labour victory with the smaller parties insisting on PR as a condition for their support. A bid Labour majority will encourage Starmer's authoritarian instinct, someone who carried out a ruthless purge of Labour's progressives, and welcomed a hard right Tory turncoat.

[@theJACKATIC]

Bulgaria, Russia, lithuania, Italy, portugal, Latvia, Montenegro, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia, Greece and Luxembourg all have worse gini coefficients the UK.

[@dogzero1]

The Conseravtives have done all this: 1. Highest energy bills in Europe. 2. Highest taxes in 70 years. 3. Highest interest rates since 2008. 4. Highest train fares in Europe. 5. Longest waiting lists in NHS history. 6. Raw sewage pumped into rivers. 7. Lowest corporate taxes in 50 years. 8. Lowest State Pension in Europe. 9. Highest Immigration both legal and illegal ever. 10. Destroyed the NHS dentist service. 11. Brought the Brexit vote and ruined the country. 12. Oane failed Prime Minister after another. 13. Worlds shortest in post Prome Minister. 14. More corrupt MP's than any other party in parliament. 15. Europes longest Austerity for the loewr paid. 16. Highest Council Tax rates in the World. 17. Reduced our Armed Forces more than any other G8 country. 18. Highest number of MP's that have been arrested for sexual offences. 19. Highest number of MP's that have been sacked for corruption and Fraudulent acts. 20. Voted to allow Bankers to have unlimited bonus's even though the bankers caused the crash of 2008. 21. More libraries closed due to council cuts than any other modern country. 22. Ruined and destroyed the Train services by giving private companies tax payers money as subsidies. 23. Voted against Labours creation of the minimum wage. 24. And finally, wasted billions of Tax payers money on crony PPE contracts for their friends and other Tory donators.

[@stuartgraca]

I tell you the basic problem in British politics is a lack of rational concern for life and social cohesion. The politics that exist are content with the format of acceptable change, even when it moves 180 degrees in 5 years. Labour will mix and match policies in order to be elected, the Tories will move to the far right in orfer to sound forceful, it as no bearing on public needs or commercial reality. The home policy is much like the Israel v Palestine issue, devoid of honest concern.

[@fightthepowerman]

Yeah its weird, its like our elites serve capital and not the people who voted for them. Sometimes it almost feels like theres an obvious and unreconcilable problem at the very base of our system. Sometimes it feels weird that our politicians are so against any kind of actual change. Almost as if they are part of a class of people who has wholly different incentives to both us and to what they claim to have. Almost.

[@reuben8140]

@@fightthepowerman Also why Reform is a doomed project, if they even came close to dislodging the Tories their inbox would filled with donors promising the world yet oh so concerned with the property values, cheap labour and subsidised research underpinned by current immigration levels. The libertarians would seize upon such an opportunity and the nationalists would be left with their d*cks out, relegated to window-dressing projects like Rwanda. Same issue if the Tories pivoted far right themselves - traditional nationalist talking points like heritage, family, community and local industry simply aren’t profitable for today’s efficiency-mad globally-concerned donors.

[@Hamilton-kz2xw]

only here for the money. save a lot pixels and blah blah. do you honestly think the average voter has the mental ability to read or want to read so much "bollocks". if some dozy bint on eastenders repeated your words imagine the backlash.

[@fredmercury1314]

The Tories? Far right..? That's literally hilarious...

[@craigmurray3483]

@@fightthepowerman If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal - Emma Goldman. What was true then seems to be true now.

[@TheSuperPsychoKiller]

When you don’t have an umbrella in the rain during a public event, how can anyone trust you to have a brain?

[@olaflieser3812]

He just can't multitask. Hold an umbrella and talk at the same time...that's all. I could do it. Can I become prime minister?

[@mayerrathore8132]

His brain was super hot like an engine and need cooling in the rain and it didn't work .

[@TheStubertos]

Especially when he says "If you can't have a plan, then how can we trust you to lead our country?". Literally couldn't plan to bring an umbrella...

[@emer67]

Sunak's speech made a big splash....drench war fare

[@pipins3616]

Labour voter response duuh

[@TheLucanicLord]

@@pipins3616 He's a drip.

[@jayrowe5925]

Humour

[@annbretagne2108]

Hope Keir Starmer watches this and takes it on board.

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

Well alright!!!! 😊

[@fozzyami]

We need to be voting for parties and NOT personalities. We don't have presidents. Our PM can, and probably will, change during a term of government. So we need to be changing this pushed narrative of voting for a person, we don't do it so we shouldn't be talking like we do.

[@jonsmith5058]

The current Labour party is based on Starmers personality. He’s robbed them of any discussion, stamped out any left wing passion and suspends anyone who wont say exactly what he wants.

[@richardjones7984]

We are being MK Ultra mind controlled by the media for the nefarious purposes of the US intelligence agencies. They run all our political parties apart from Laurence Fox's one man party.

[@dafyddroff8084]

We should be voting for policies instead of Parties or People. The parlimentary system has been a failure

[@Kavala76]

Missions? Steps? They'll go the same way as Starmer's "pledges" - binned and forgotten.

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

Don't be too proud of your Keir Starmer bashing, the Tory ability to destroy a country pales in significance to the power of hope.

[@rafaeldegiacomoaraujo8778]

I'm not hard left but I have witnessed a labour party that bans long serving MPs with an amazing record of being correct like JC and DA while accepting hard right MP that voted against everything that the Labour Party stands for. I think you are gaslighting us here.

[@adamc973]

They're not standing them as MPs come the next parliament... it's just an act of symbolism

[@Splooshua.]

Totally agree, starmer also didn’t need to “compromise” on policies like re-nationalisation of public services or his commitment to taxing the rich (especially because a worse economy means you need to raise more taxes!) they’re sensible and popular moves that need to be implemented.

[@fredmercury1314]

What has DA been correct about, specifically?

[@enemywithin1295]

What has Corbyn achieved? The man has been an MP longer than I've been alive, and as far as I can see there's no Private Members Bills from him, nor any Select Committees he's chaired or let alone sat on. The man has squandered an opportunity.

[@jontalbot1]

JC is a man who voted against his own government over 500 times. He should never have been a member of the party in the first place, let alone an MP. You don’t belong either so join a party which represents your views

[@Natterz101]

No shooting the messenger please but what happened to Labours plan of public ownership of the whole railways within 5 years in the ‘We own it’ site? just curious 🧐

[@andybrice2711]

I think that’s still on. Last I heard they would renationalize them into “Great British Railways” as the franchises expire.

[@jennifercardy3616]

You must listen and not comment on the negative He said he would do this gradually Rome was not build in and day, And we have 14 years of failure and broken promises from the Conservatives and they have conserved too much money and not have invested in the Bristish forces the NHS and public services too little to late at the dawn of a election vote Labour !

[@prideofdurham4776]

Michael Penfold Gove is not standing in the election.The news gets better , maybe we will have a good Summer.😊

[@alisdairmclean8605]

Actually I would like to see Gove stand for election but get ignominiously rejected by the electorate. A Portillo moment.

[@Chris-xv2gm]

​@@alisdairmclean8605you show great intellect!

[@kevinu.k.7042]

@@alisdairmclean8605 Yes, the writing is on the wall for his Tory seat.

[@markjoseph196]

NHS is tories Achilles heel

[@jonrotten31]

And immigration

[@julieclonan2427]

DEI Officers on £100.000 a Year must Go First, then the Unqualified that can't speak English, that Cost Millions in Compensation.

[@StyledObject]

and GDP growth, productivity, house building, wealth inequality, workers rights, real wage growth, infrastructure, industrial strategy, corruption...

[@Eltener123]

​@@julieclonan2427 There's no DEI roles on anywhere near that salary the public sector and it would be a ridiculous anti-free-market policy to ban them from the private sector

[@thetragicyouth]

You Wes Streeting wants to accelerate the privatisation of NHS services?

[@johnrichards2508]

The two elephants in the room are Brexit and Gaza. The silence on both issues brings daily shame on the British establishment.

[@briandelaney9710]

Unfortunately , there is no one on the Labour front bench who inspires

[@dizkoztu]

Why you not inspired by man of the people multimillionaire Sir Kier?

[@colinthompson3111]

Enjoyed this video. Hope to see more of Andrew Marr videos during the election. Has Anoosh delivered yet?😊

[@danielholmes-nj5nq]

The truth would be a good start, although this is Keir Starmer we're talking about so that could be a problem.

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

He's an honest chap, he'll be far more radical than you realise.

[@danielholmes-nj5nq]

@@ChrisPatrick-q6k Giving diametric opposite answers to the same questions in separate interviews does not an honest man make.

[@dominicchallis2928]

@@danielholmes-nj5nqIn a print media climate which fosters deep disdain for outspoken advocacy of human decency and sense, it can be punitive to give a consistently empathetic opinion on important matters as seen with Jeremy Corbyn. On that basis, I have some faith that these contradictions are mostly damage limitation to curtail media smear campaigns against Starmer, and that once in government with a thumping majority he can finally say, to some extent, what the Left have been wanting to say for 14 years: the truth. Then again, I could be wrong.

[@HiveFleetOni]

@@dominicchallis2928I think you are right. If you look at some of the speeches he has given where he has spoken for longer than needed to just deliver sound bites, he starts to get energised when he is talking about social injustices. I see that as a good sign of what sits behind the iron-cast discipline.

[@MrTzimisces]

This sounds like more projection of Andrew wants Labour to be, rather than what they actually are. What Starmer's Labour is all about is protecting the status quo and not upsetting rich people

[@alex_zetsu]

All he needs to say to Britain to win the general election is "I'm Not Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Nigel Farage, or Jeremy Corbyn" and he'd win.

[@ronseymour4976]

This is an excellent synopsis of the current impasse that we are in. There are so many serious issues out there and they don't have enough time or money to tackle any of them. The goals that they are trying to achieve are unattainable. Successive governments have been so obsessed with their raison d'etre that they have achieved little other that bolstering their egos and alienating the public.

[@hypedude6120]

Spot on again Andrew. I'll be voting Labour but I despair at their lack of ambition.

[@jennifercardy3616]

So I am what about Clemence Atlie Aneurin Beven I think Keir would be the answer. What about us we must invest in Children and Families first x

[@eoin8156]

As a Labour Party member for 30 years I’m extremely doubtful. Remember our last majority government under Blair was a bloody centre right political reign . Invading Iraq as well as privatisation of areas of the nhs .

[@angelalacey1060]

Thankyou sir ive enjoyed listening to you and i agree with what your saying goverment sould not interfear with changing pip benifits people need cash to pay bills rent food also child benifits needs to remain as it is!!!! Vouchers are a massive mistake more councill houses to be built for british people who are homeless😊🎉

[@jamiewillis6511]

Andrew Marr absolutely on point as always. The UK needs a vision and needs optimism. Keir Starmer is just too timid and concillitary, if the Labour Party win then it's a conservative failure, not a Labour triumph, they have nothing to be proud of.

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

Rachel Reeves said that the Labour party is not a party for the unemployed.

[@BrianMartin-ph7pt]

If labour con their way in most of us will be..

[@catherinemartin6258]

@@BrianMartin-ph7pt Absolute nonsense

[@jamesprice4647]

Reeves is a shocker.

[@TOP.FOX.]

​@catherinemartin6258 you clearly have not lived under labour but you will learn.

[@ilokivi]

The proper course of action would be for the next UK government to prepare to #RejoinEU. Trying to 'make Brexit work' is like attempting to drive a car with the handbrake on.

[@whackiey]

UK governments have been messing about patching up child benefit for decades, its a symptom of the battle between capital and labour. People are not being paid a "living" wage on which they can raise their families. Just patching that up, yet again, is an elastoplast. It does not make sense to subsidise consumer spending with government spending. While the Conservative/Unions war had bad players on both sides, the total destruction of unionised labour has led to exploitation. The whole austerity drive, following de-industrialisation without capital re-investment has made it factorially worse

[@mediastudiesnetwork]

Wonderful insightful commentary

[@vivakidocelot8948]

Andrew Feinstein Independent to dispatch Stammer in his own constituency!!! Vote for the Citizen Independents or The Workers Party of Britain to end the reign of the Uniparty Crime Collective!!!

[@danielcreamer9669]

I understand that Labour is tacking centrist, compromise is a vital part of democracy. But I also hope Starmer can walk that Biden line of centrist appeal and some solid progressive moves. Letting some of that creep in to the campaign would probably be a good thing!

[@andybrice2711]

Please let’s go economically progressive though. And not neoliberalism plus divisive identity politics.

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

He's got the genocide down already.

[@catherinemartin6258]

I hope so too

[@peteratkinson922]

Probably too late to drop the identity politics if last year's conference is a guide​@@andybrice2711

[@TheSuperPsychoKiller]

Who gets to define what center is? I thought Jeremey Corbyn was center.

[@johnbridger5629]

Saving the planet and long term economic benefit go hand in hand, and that is the message that needs sending out.

[@sharonwashington8150]

They will say whatever it takes to make THEM great! but when it comes to serving the actual people they will do very little other than put themselves FIRST! talking out of ones backside is a regular trait with Labour for one example. Tories have had 14 years of doing just so! and BROWN was an absolute DISASTER for BRITAIN another UNELECTED waste of space.

[@mattwright2964]

I agree. This Govt really has to go but I do want someone to get a grip on where we are taking the country. For me I want to hear that Labour fundamentally understand where the system is going wrong and how they might approach solving it ( one exmaple is poor structtral economic performance for decades under both parties). I don't expect every bit of detail (although in truth after 14 years of a failed Govt they have had chance in opposition to develop quite a lot). I get that we don't want false expectations and that people have become cynical about political promises but there is a danger here for Labour that they really don't shine at all in the campaign.

[@QuantumInspired]

In Cambridgeshire, they completely ignore the fact that people even could have kids. Nothing is available, not for new businesses or children , all around narcissists in golf courses.

[@maryfitzpatrick9639]

Andrew, please tell me, why are so many people afraid of Labour? The party which transformed the country after the second world war? It mystifies me, as I child of that era. Please do a podcast on that.

[@julieclonan2427]

Old Labour Died with the Champagne Marxist Blair, who is now Klaus Schwab 's Replacement. Starmer is Bliar's Puppet, like Biden is Obama's.

[@jrobs1133]

They started the cultural destruction of Britain through mass immigration. The Tories have followed on from that work. Voter apathy will win Labour the election. Lowest turnout for decades on the cards.

[@karenlp5867]

I’m no expert, and I too would like to hear Andrew’s opinion on the matter because I’m not sure if I’m right about this, but it seems to me that people are afraid of Labour because the mainstream media have taught them to be. Most people don’t have either the time or inclination to look into the issues for themselves, and it’s the right wing that have the money and power to control the narrative and influence public opinion. I think the only way to resolve this is through press reform.

[@jrobs1133]

@@karenlp5867 It's because Labour destroyed British cultural identity when they brought in multiculturalism the likes of which this country has never seen. Now we have Jews v Muslims, Pakistani grooming gangs etc. The country of the United Kingdom was then fractured under devolution? The last Labour government also went all tyrannical and started invading countries too. Plus Brown sold our Gold at $262 per ounce. Gold's spot price is currently at $2,000. Labour didn't transform the country. They committed a gross act of cultural genocide on the British people.

[@maryfitzpatrick9639]

Well said; thanks for your reply. 👍

[@j.johnson3520]

Thank you Andrew for a great in-depth analysis that's remarkably insightfull. Really appreciated.

[@jennifercardy3616]

We do not want another 14 years of cockups Thank you Andrew the Tories should be out!

[@E_Rex_Sean]

*The choice between Tory or Labour is like a choice between a slow end or a quick end.* *At least with Labour they’ll finish off the UK quickly then.*

[@nigelcox4234]

“Corduroy wearing Britain” what the fvck is Andrew Marr talking about?

[@paulmcallister4546]

Its a lazy way of identifying a certain type of person (usually male, late middle aged, conservative and a tad rural in aspect). I love my corduroy levi trucker jacket....I dont think he meant me, but who knows!

[@JohnnyinMN]

Sunak and his speech: ‘A Day Of Wettening.’ Didn’t know he was attending a Stones concert during the speech.

[@andrewalston1]

It’s no good telling us what Kier must say it’s suggesting what Kier must do in order to invest. Does he borrow or tax to raise the money.

[@anonymouse68]

There is no way I will ever support Labour again.

[@MarjorieStoker-oj8fh]

I wonder if Starmer would look into the slave labour of women prisoners in England for the company ecardo on line shopping owned by unscrupulous shareholders

[@julieclonan2427]

What about the Pakistani Owned Factories Employing Illegals?

[@patcampton7163]

Those bloody flags.

[@dereks1264]

"Economic stability" should mean economic stability for the population. When the public has such stability they will spend not just on the basics of life but on the extras that grow the overall economy. It's "bubble up" economics rather than the fallacy of "trickle down" economics.

[@michaelc821]

Sunak speech in the rain was the sign its all over.

[@andrewdavies8954]

Come on Mr Marr, labour in power is going to do nothing but harm to U.K.Plc , that's the message that needs to be put out

[@carolinadavies5589]

They are going to take us into war

[@catherinemartin6258]

Behave

[@jrobs1133]

@@catherinemartin6258 No

[@pastyman001]

Marr explained One Nation Conservatism, better, deeper and more intuitively than I have ever heard it

[@paulsmith1981]

The British people keep electing the uniparty over and over again expecting a different result.

[@pastyman001]

The army didn't want National Service after the war. It was a pointless burden on them. Employers would not want to lose staff and the people themselves would be joining the army now if they wanted to do it. Who does want this? Old right wing colonels and codgers maybe?

[@RegionalVariation]

Marr pontificating his usual guff. He’s played his part in our political malaise as a pathetically subservient political journalist then insufficiently challenging flagship politics show interviewer. Retire.

[@kevinu.k.7042]

As always a very good piece. The issue is you are asking Starmer and the Labour Party to stand up and start doing positive leadership of the country and the people. It just seems not to be his almost middle management way. That is to his detriment and our loss.

[@heliopolis]

I don’t think we’re trying to save the planet, Andrew. The planet will be fine in the long run. We’re trying to save ourselves.

[@i-am-vonnegut]

As a Scot, one big family does not exist. Neither do I want it to. England deserves its parliament back. Time for a federation of kingdoms, Westminster should not have say north of the border. English politics for English people!

[@stephenhill545]

Who do you have more in common with, a Scottish millionaire, or an English person who has the same occupation, salary, and life chances as you?

[@olaflieser3812]

I believe Keir Starmer will just want to avoid big mistakes and run down the clock now. As if, in a game of football, your side is leading 3-0 at half time. Don't go on the offensive, just run down the clock.

[@sofajockeyUK]

This. When you have a 20-25% poll advantage, give yourself the space to deal with what you find in power. The current admistration have been running 'scorched earth'.

[@chrishardy3473]

@@sofajockeyUKyou watch the polls tighten when it gets closer to the election then. Him saying nothing and relying on the tories being abysmal isn't enough.

[@hugodrax71]

In truth, he's been doing this the last 18 months. He's not actually needed to do anything to be on the cusp of entering number 10.

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

I'm just PRAYING he doesn't do a Kinnock, get over enthusiastic at a rally or some other event and blurt out "well alright, well alright, well alright!" That would suck massively

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

​@@chrishardy3473Labour will secure a 160 seat majority MINIMUM!!!! I've bet all of my holiday money on it, so they'd better do well!!! 😮 (£800, Majorca 7 days)

[@howardgayton2127]

Labour need to properly start talking about the stupidity of Brexit, and after the election start to make the case for rejoining.

[@sharonwashington8150]

Labour need to START telling the TRUTH! more like it.

[@Existential_Bengali]

Universal free health care and education for all citizens of a country is a must, an unhealthy and unskilled labour force is a nightmare for any kind of long term economic development.

[@tatata1543]

Every time I see Pat McFadden I think David Icke might have a point about lizard people.

[@_xeere]

Here's to hoping. Sadly, I doubt it will happen. We're in for 5 more years of austerity with a fresh coat of paint and little more.

[@anthonysullivan3238]

God bless Gordon Brown

[@fredmercury1314]

The guy who sold Britain's gold at a record low, costing the UK taxpayer BILLIONS?

[@JohnDavis-gu9jx]

How much would our gold reserves be worth now? About 30 Billion and rising.... Why do the serially incompetent run countries?

[@maikotter9945]

There can NEVER be >= 1 "God"! Change the British national anthem, to "Grace saves our land!", please ... [or so]

[@face5624]

After 14yrs of the Tories I'd vote for the devil before I'd ever vote for them.

[@aclark903]

Unwise. Is Kier Starmer in Number 10 really worth selling your soul for?

[@fredmercury1314]

So vote Reform. Labour will be the death of the UK. They don't give a toffee about the BRITISH working class.

[@jake751]

Then your wish has been granted 😌

[@pipins3616]

You may do

[@markpalmer8083]

Then vote for Reform and not Starmergedon.

[@keithalderson100]

That he denounces The World Economic Forum, or accepts he will be tride as a traitor as working against the national interests of The UK. Starmer stated he follows The WEF in preference to Westminster. He and other acolytes of The WEF's 'Young Leadership' conferences ALL need to be questioned and their actions gauged against Westminster's policies and these policies measured against the benefit to The UK population. ALL parties' MPs, ministers in government and civil servants need to face this process.

[@mattwright2964]

What a load of utter conspiracy drivel.

[@Loowee__]

You can't even spell tried...must be a reform voter.

[@ThePixey1000]

@keithalderson100 Yes because Blair is running Labour Starmer is just the frontman Blair is paid by the WEF

[@sofajockeyUK]

Watching how Reevenomics plays out will be fascinating.

[@grahamjones5400]

UK politics is like a family sitcom when compared to USA where people argue about how old the esrth is and vote based on that.

[@existentialvoid]

if the UK went carbon 0 - the impact would be less than .02% of global emissions. While I understand the concerns the public has - the change has to come from China and India - not from the UK, the EU or the US. These countries have been effectivly carbon neutral since 2014 - about 10 years. So if you really want to make an impact - stop buying Chinese and Indian products and start to impose a tariff on trade with these countries until they meet climate goals. This is the only way Brittan can have an impact on global climate change.

[@kevinheath7588]

If labour dont get on top of immigration i cant see them sorting out most the countries problems, too many people coming here is putting a strain on things like the NHS ...housing...crime etc. And i do not think Labour will get on top of immigration...thus i cant see Labour sorting out most the problems in this country.

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

They will, give them a chance.

[@nxu5107]

We don’t want Starmer as our Prime Minister. He has enabled Israel.

[@RedJadeArt]

Yeah I agree. Maybe labour can win an election by appealing to middle England but it can’t keep power without any real ambition for working people in the U.K.

[@heatherprior2240]

Labour the party for immigration

[@stevo728822]

The Tories have been competing for that title too.

[@BembeJames]

More immigrant have come into the UK under the Tories. Yet you blame Labour?

[@kitcat4512]

He'll do whatever his darlinng Davos tells him to do.

[@jennifercardy3616]

Come on Keir vote for the future and we do not want the hard left anymore Or the extreme right of the Tories we the public and labour to come a speak up to the ordinary people VOTE LABOUR lets be strong honest and Lound and fight off the self serving Tories🇬🇧🌹🙏

[@patcampton7163]

Well said Andrew.

[@brideshead78]

Self starming the nation. The guy is a spineless ideologue.

[@MarI-Posa]

No one can articulate what matters better than Andrew Marr

[@richardbannister-jz8so]

Starmer- Tory in disguise?

[@andrewwebb9426]

Great talk, as always! Will Starmer-Reeves listen, though? They seem so small minded and short-termism. I admire Gordon Brown of all the New Labour lot and I’m sure he’s right about the two child limit as regards child poverty but I think we also need look to reducing birth rate and, yes, dependency on the state. My suggestion is that it should only apply from now on, I.e. those with bigger families already should get the help they need but there will be no allowances for third and subsequent children in future. The two big planks Starmer-Reeves should concentrate on after their timid six steps should be cheap council housing and far wider and more available tertiary education. Cheap housing to get this stulifying burden off young people’s shoulders and allow them to spread their wings and ambitions. I always thought the target to get everyone a university education was missing the point. Yes, we need excellent tertiary education available for all but the old tech colleges and proper apprenticeship schemes are far better for most of us. Most important of all, we should be able to retrain later in life at a reasonable cost.

[@stevenmoses5807]

Labour must not win. Starmer doesn't want to stop the boats he wants them here just like sunak they both have the same agenda

[@Жонглёр]

Сейчас Великобритания столкнулась с финансовой проблемой, сложнее которой не было с 1950-х годов. Такую оценку дал директор Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) Пол Джонсон. «С деньгами туго. Государственные службы работают со скрипом, налоги находятся на исторически высоком уровне, и обе партии ограничены своими конкретными обещаниями сократить долг», - рассказал Джонсон Bloomberg. Он добавил, что сейчас финансовое положение Британии труднейшее за последние 70 лет. ЗАЧЕМ Вы рушите благосостояние британских граждан ради призрачной мечты разделить Россию? Победителей не будет!!! Россия никогда не отказывалась от мирных переговоров. 2014 Минские соглашение. 2022 попытка подписать мирный договор провалилась из-за визита Бориса Джонсона в Украину. 2024 Россия вновь предложила мирные переговоры....или убийства славян это и есть главная цель Британии?

[@mountbatten2222]

TELLING THE BRITISH PEOPLE ´SOMETHING´ TO WIN AN ELECTION WILL NOT HELP TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS AT ALL ! REMEMBER WHAT BORIS; FARAGE; LIZZ TOLD THE PEOPLE ! BRITAIN NEEDS A LEADER WIZH A STRATEGY TO GET YOU OUT OF THIS MESS ! AND EVEN A LEADER OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL CAN´T DO IT WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE BRITISH TO CHANGE THEMSELF FOR GOOD ; STARTING WITH EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROFESIONISTS.

[@Nick-zp3ub]

He can tell us anything but he’s a liar who can’t be trusted to keep his promises. Voting for Starmer’s red tories or Sunak’s blue tories is pointless

[@jonsmith5058]

You said it clearly, Starmers Labour is trying to satisfy nimby Tories. They are now right wing conservatives. Its nice to hope for some inspiring left wing support, but you might aswell have hoped Camerons government would also be Left wing. Abandon Labour, vote green.

[@l33jcm]

Lets give Labour the opportunity to show us what they're about!

[@captaintorch983]

We know already

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

​@@captaintorch983Mind reading?

[@jamesadey8744]

More of the same, only worse.

[@RJH755]

In other words, Britain is switching from the Blue Tories to the Red Tories

[@MiniBrute]

This Country is actually finished

[@MrPmcMcMental]

Labour complaining about the two child cap isn’t to help traditional British families, it’s to help their new voters who have arrived here that have far more children! Labour needs non traditional voters and will pander to anything that these people need, that’s not necessary a good deal for native people born here ! Who pays for all the free stuff ? Free houses, free rent, free dental care, free NHS , free benefits and expenses, free mobility cars, free bus passes, free train tickets, people in hotels get heating and food for nothing ….. I’m expected to go out and work to pay for a huge list of expenses for people who had no right to come here in the first place …… and Labour need their votes to win….. so I’m at a complete disadvantage as always!

[@Mcsqw]

I think you'll find that: 1) Most of the net migration figure is overseas students (primarily Chinese) who pay uncapped university fees, pay an NHS surcharge on their visa applications while very rarely using the NHS, and who all go home at the end of their studies because their parents would hunt them down if they didn't. 2) The asylum system is only so expensive at the moment because the Tories have grown the case backlog from under 10,000 to more like 70,000 despite only a marginal increase in the actual number of people trying to claim asylum overall. Regardless of your opinion on asylum, failing to process applications means that genuine claimants can't work and support themselves, and non-genuine claimants can't be removed. Keeping them in limbo is pointless and expensive and is shuttling billions of our money to some very rich hoteliers who probably love the guaranteed income during an economic downturn.

[@Mcsqw]

And 3) The average age of a UK citizen is about 43 and there are 11 million over 65's in this country, which everyone on all sides of the political spectrum have known would happen and nobody's done anything to ameliorate the effect of an aging population in the NHS, social care, or the economy.

[@karenlp5867]

@@McsqwThank you. I wish more people understood these things.

[@PorthLlwyd]

The answer to an aging population shouldn't be to import more people. Imagine the UK with it's population halved: Housing would be so inexpensive More farmland handed back to nature It would be a much nicer place to live @@Mcsqw

[@Dragonsitter]

They are FIRST STEPS on a journey of 1000 miles. They will build on them. You are WRONG WAIT AND SEE

[@Jamesyahyah]

The real TRUTH not the one he is currently spouting

[@mfs1011]

Even before Starmer enters Downing Street, the drumbeat of higher taxes and big spending has begun. It will only get louder.

[@firstlast-tf3fq]

Bruh… how can you say this when the Tories have raised taxes and spending to historic highs despite somehow tanking public services?

[@nevadatan7323]

I honestly don't care if you have to pay 3 extra pence in a pound. £9 olive oils a fkn joke. Get a grip

[@johnmanpls5577]

Tories increased taxes bc they have tax breaks to their rich friends and businesses

[@barneypaws4883]

@@firstlast-tf3fq correct. Labour want to cut taxes for ordinary people not put them up.

[@attackpatterndelta8949]

Not being the Tories is more than enough to get Labour elected this time around. At the 2029 election they will have to be elected becaise they ARE Labour. It'll be an interesting few years in between. I'm looking forward to having just one PM over that period.

[@fndthousing]

Today, bizarrely, I was having a steam in Stoke, and a discussion broke out about who people were voting for and the state of the country. Unusually it was very cordial and kind, despite there being 4 different answers from 4 different people, with everyone agreeing that individualism and lack of community being a key problem, as well as being gouged by profiteers. Anyways, the one thing I really came away with, from the dozen or so people listening too, is that Labour and Starmer are deeply unappealing and uninspiring. And that no one said they would vote for them. Personally I predicted correctly (with the betting slips to prove it) the past 4 elections and 3 referenda. And the polls were wrong on all of those. And it was because of moments like these. So when I suggest here that it will be far closer than any commentator expects, and may even be a hung parliament or a loss for Labour, I hope whoever reads this will take it as credible. The only way they will get this huge swing to actually occur is to inspire people somehow, and I just don't see them even attempting that.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Didn’t talk about mass immigration. Huh?

[@stephenkerensky710]

The only really effective way of getting cheap or free energy is hydro-power generated from the tides. It might take five years or more to pay off the set-up costs but once that is done there are only cheap maintenance costs to pay for. Clearly the big energy companies are dead-set against anything that will reduce their huge profits.

[@ianfraser6161]

The planet does not need saving. It’s us that need saving from Earth systems gone awry by human activity causing global warming.

[@jrobs1133]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@andybrice2711]

Yes. We have to keep this in sensible perspective. And not talk about it in quasi-religious apocalyptic language. Global Warming is not going to destroy the planet. But it’s entirely possible that it might majorly disrupt weather systems and ecosystems in ways we come to regret.

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

​@@andybrice2711The planet is like a cuddly pet. If you look after it properly and show it affection and love it will be happy. But if you play with it too much, and run strange experiments on it all the time it will start to go wrong.

[@andybrice2711]

@@ChrisPatrick-q6k I think that’s far too simplistic and romanticised. The planet is a dynamical system. If we disrupt it too much it will respond in unpredictable ways. Nature is both beautiful and brutally indifferent. It doesn’t care about our “affection”.

[@Afterthoughtbtw]

I actually think there is something much simpler that Keir Starmer needs to find an answer to: what does trying to provide a cohesive Britain (and England in particular) mean from a societal point of view? He needs to provide a meaty, compelling idea that can unite the population away from the kind of increasing sectarianism that can get multiple local councillors elected based on a platform regarding international events in a region completely disconnected to the UK. The very fact that that can even happen shows that there is no cohesion whatsoever here. And Labour are the party most at risk of seeing something like this happen in the general election.

[@francisravenscroft-dw6gi]

Labours five steps are as nebulous as Sunaks pledges. No content at all.

[@ronaldstrange8981]

The prospect of lack-lustre, boring Starmer as P.M. is positively totally depressing. May, 2024.

[@stephenhill545]

As opposed to charismatic Sunak, who just lights every room up with his bright eyed public school boy whackiness.

[@richardanson2445]

I’m resigning. 😂

[@maikotter9945]

Have fun beeing the "Admimistrator of the Chilton Hundreds"!

[@notjustforhackers4252]

'The Investigatory powers act' breaks Article 8 of the ECHR. 'The Online Safety bill" breaks Article 10 of the ECHR. He must tell Britain he will repeal these two.

[@Jasmine-oj5mq]

Regarding One Nation Tories you just described my husband’s family, decent enough, moaning about proposed VAT on school fees but said nothing when things like Sure Start was abolished, said nothing about austerity and the damage that did across the country.

[@MisterNumber6]

Starmer can say whatever he wants, he will be the last person I vote for.

[@stephenhill545]

Should talk about all the corruption they have been found engaging in. They are rotten.

[@MartinLane-pq9fy]

Ah, Red Andy, another of the BBC’s ‘politically impartial’ Trots.

[@davidfenton4387]

That he is resigning with immediate effect.