2023 will see Labour set out the case for change, with a promise
to deliver “a decade of national renewal” and “the economy and
the politics Britain deserves”.
In his New Year speech, will promise to bring an end
to the era of “sticking plaster politics” in Westminster with “a
new way of governing” that will help build a fairer, greener,
more dynamic Britain.
Speaking in Stratford, East London, the Labour leader will pledge
to bring back “the hope we used to take for granted, that you can
build your future around, The sort of hope you can build your
future around.”
He will say: “That’s why showing how we can
change the country is so important this year. We can give people
a sense of possibility again, show light at the end of the
tunnel.”
However, the Labour leader will also have a stark warning over
the need for reform, saying: “let me be clear - none of this
should be taken as code for Labour getting its big government
chequebook out again.”
“Of course investment is required - I can see the damage the
Tories have done to our public services as plainly as anyone. But
we won’t be able to spend our way out of their mess - it’s not as
easy as that. There is no substitute for a robust private sector,
creating wealth in every community.”
Starmer will speak about the future of the country, saying that:
“for all the challenges we face, I remain optimistic about our
future. I believe in our country, I believe in our businesses, I
believe in our people, I believe in our spirit, in the ambition
they have for themselves and their community.” But he will
argue that what they lack “is a government that shares their
ambition.”
“So this New Year, let us imagine what we could achieve if we
match the ambition of the British people, unlock their pride and
their purpose, give them an economy and a politics they
deserve.
“That’s why I say Britain needs a completely new way of
governing. You can't overstate how much a short-term mind-set
dominates Westminster. And from there, how it infects all the
institutions which try and fail to run Britain from the centre.”
Making specific reference to the NHS, Starmer will talk about how
the multiple crises affecting the country have each been “an
iceberg on the horizon … time and again it’s the same pattern.”
“I call it ‘sticking plaster politics’. This year, we’re going to
show how real change comes from unlocking the pride and purpose
of Britain’s communities.”
The Labour leader will promise to end the era of sticking plaster
politics, saying: “no more Westminster hoarding power, no more
holding back this country’s economic potential.”
“A fairer, greener, more dynamic country is coming and a
transformed state and politics will take us there”, he will say.
Starmer will set out how Labour will achieve this by saying
Labour 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. 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.”
