Keir Starmer pledged a "decade of renewal" under a Labour government, setting out plans for a second term in office before the party has even won its first.
The Labour leader spoke to an audience in Stratford this morning in his first speech of the new year.
In his speech he lambasted the Conservative government, stressing that the Labour Party would not “spend our way out” of the “mess” created by the Conservative party.
Setting out his vision, Starmer proposed two steps to unlocking “pride and purpose” in the country.
He said: “First – we will modernise central government so it becomes, dynamic, agile, strong and, above all, focused. Driven by clear, measurable objectives. National missions.
“A new approach to the power of government. More strategic, more relaxed about bringing in the expertise of public and private, business and union, town and city, and using that partnership to drive our country forward.
“We will announce these missions in the coming weeks – our manifesto will be built around them and they will be the driving force of the next Labour government.
“Pushing us on to a better future and a decade of national renewal.”
The leader appeared optimistic as he laid out a 10-year-plan for Government, despite elections taking place every five years.
Continuing, he said his second step would be “giving communities the chance to control their economic destiny”, adding Labour would “embrace the ‘Take Back Control’ message”.
The Labour leader spoke to an audience in Stratford this morning in his first speech of the new year.
Stefan Rousseau
Sir Keir said: “The argument is devastatingly simple. The decisions which create wealth in our communities should be taken by local people with skin in the game, and a huge power shift out of Westminster can transform our economy, our politics and our democracy.
“I go back to Brexit. Yes, a whole host of issues were on that ballot. But as I went around the country, campaigning for Remain, I couldn’t disagree with the basic case so many Leave voters made to me.”
He added: “It’s not unreasonable for us to recognise the desire for communities to stand on their own feet. It’s what ‘Take Back Control’ meant. The control people want is control over their lives and their community.
“So we will embrace the ‘Take Back Control’ message but we’ll turn it from a slogan to a solution. From a catchphrase into change. We will spread control out of Westminster. Devolve new powers over employment support, transport, energy, climate change, housing, culture, childcare provision and how councils run their finances. And we’ll give communities a new right to request powers which go beyond this.
“All this will be in a new Take Back Control Bill – a centrepiece of our first King’s speech. A Bill that will deliver on the demand for a new Britain. A new approach to politics and democracy. A new approach to growth and our economy.”
Keir Starmer has started planning for Labour’s second election victory before the Party has even won its first term.
Stefan Rousseau