TIMESASIANews.com | London – British opposition leader Labor Keir Starmer supports the plan to spread power away from the political center of Westminster. The goal is for people to have more control over their lives and for local politicians to play more roles on transport, housing and employment issues.
It is Labor who is ahead of the ruling Conservatives in opinion polls. Before elections expected in 2024, he outlined his agenda to show voters how he would run the government.
In response to the government’s “step-up” efforts to tackle regional inequality, Starmer said this could be achieved by providing “the greatest transfer of power from Westminster to the British people.”
“People across the country are eager for a new approach,” he said in a speech he will deliver in a report entitled “The New England” as released by Republika. Monday (5/12/2022).
“People know Britain needs change, but they will never get it from the Conservatives, so I’m determined that, together with Labor, people will get the change they deserve,” he said.
The report will make 40 recommendations including handing over new powers to local communities over skills, transport, planning and culture to promote growth. Labor said the move would spark hundreds of “clusters” of economic activity in cities.
In that speech Starmer would say these proposals were being discussed. In opinion polls the Labor Party leads the Conservatives by 20 points.
But support for Starmer fell to its lowest point since August. Some in his party pressed him to reveal more of his plans.
In an interview with Sky News, Sunday (4/12/2022) yesterday Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi said his party is rebuilding to ensure readiness for the upcoming 2024 general election and challenge the Labor Party.
“Now if you dig into the data, I would worry if I were Keir Starmer, because if you look at the numbers, he’s very soft,” Zahawi said.(**)
