'Ambitious Starmer has air of Blair but is thinking big on how to fix broken UK'

23 February 2023 , 22:45

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Starmer has set out how he intends to fix broken Britain. Now he needs to convince people his plans are achievable (Image: Gary Roberts Photography/REX/Shutterstock)

You cannot fault Keir Starmer for his lack of ambition.

Ahead of the 1997 general election, then Labour leader Tony Blair famously published a five-point pledge card.

The goals were deliberately small in scale: cutting class sizes, a reduction in the NHS waiting list, action on young offenders, getting more young people into work and no income tax rises.

Compared with Blair’s modest proposals, Starmer is offering five major “missions” to transform Britain.

There is a reason why the current Labour leader is daring to think big.

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He is seeking to answer criticism, levelled by the Right and the Left, that nobody knows what he stands for.

Compared with Blair’s modest proposals, Starmer is offering five major “missions” to transform Britain (AFP via Getty Images)

Labour also know they cannot rely on the unpopularity of the Tories to triumph at the next election.

If you want to govern the country you have to say what you are for and not just what you are against.

Finally, Starmer wants to compare his bold agenda with the underwhelming prospectus offered by Rishi Sunak.

Starmer wants to compare his bold agenda with the underwhelming prospectus offered by Rishi Sunak (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

While the Tories are fiddling around trying to change a fuse, Labour is pledging to re-wire the whole house.

Starmer has set out how he intends to fix broken Britain. Now he needs to convince people his plans are achievable and not mission impossible.

Jason Beattie