Starmer vows to ‘get a grip’ on UK’s problems and ‘reverse a decade of decline’

Sir Keir Starmer will compare his task as Prime Minister to the communities that rallied round to clean up in the wake of the summer’s riots.

The Prime Minister will promise that his Government will do the “hard work” to “root out 14 years of rot” under the Conservatives.

Sir Keir will suggest the riots showed “the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure”.

“Because that is who we are, that is what we stand for. People who cared for their neighbour.

“Communities who stood fast against hatred and division. Emergency services who did their duty – even when they were in danger. And a Government that put the people of this country first.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves stands at a podium
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to raise taxes in her October Budget (Lucy North/PA)

Writing in The Times, the Prime Minister said that “once trust is broken, it is difficult to get back”, saying he stood on the steps of Downing Street after the General Election and promised to lead a government that would “return politics to public service, to rebuild that hope and trust”.

He said: “We have to be honest with people about the tough choices we face and the difficult decisions we will need to make.

“Together, we’ll build a country that belongs to all of us. A country we can be truly proud of. Let’s do that work together.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to raise taxes in her budget on October 30 after accusing the Tories of leaving a £22 billion shortfall in the public finances.

And the Prime Minister’s address comes with Labour battling accusations of cronyism after it emerged Lord Alli –  who has donated more than £500,000 to Labour over the past 20 years and provided clothing, “multiple pairs of glasses” and accommodation for Sir Keir – was given a pass to Number 10 despite not having a formal job there.

On Sunday, senior minister Pat McFadden said it had been a temporary arrangement to allow Lord Alli to attend political meetings, adding that he no longer had a pass.

He will tell the invited apprentices, small-business owners and public servants: “This Government won’t always be perfect, but I promise this: you will be at the heart of our Government and in the forefront of our minds, at the centre of everything we do.

“That’s why I wanted to invite you here today. To show that the decent, hard-working people who make up the backbone of this country belong here and that this Government is for you.

“A garden and a building that were once used for lockdown-breaking parties, are now back in your service.”

“Next week, Parliament will return. The business of politics will resume, but it will not be business as usual,” the Prime Minister will say.

“Because we can’t go on like this anymore. No more politics of performance, papering over the cracks, or division and distraction. Things are being done differently now.

“When I stood on the steps of Downing Street two months ago, I promised this Government would serve people like you: apprentices, teachers, nurses, small-business owners, firefighters – those serving the community and the country every day.

“I promised that we would get a grip on the problems we face, and that we would be judged by our actions, not by our words.”

“We’ll fix the foundations, protecting taxpayers’ money and people’s living standards. We’ll reform our planning system to build the new homes we need.

“We’ll level up workers’ rights so people have security, dignity and respect. We’ll strengthen our border security. We’ll crack down on crime. We’ll transform public transport. And we’ll give our children the opportunities they need to succeed.”

Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller said: “This is nothing but a performative speech to distract the public from the promises Starmer made that he never had any intention of keeping.

“In fewer than 100 days, the Labour Party has dumped its ambition of public service and become engulfed in sleaze, handed out bumper payouts to its union paymasters with ‘no strings’ attached and laid the groundwork to harm pensioners and tax working people.”

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