KEIR Starmer has accused the SNP of “gesture politics” and likened them to the Tories.
It came in a speech the Labour leader made in response to Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a General Election to be held on July 4.
Speaking in central London on Wednesday evening, Starmer set out three reasons for the public to vote Labour.
Unlike Sunak, who became drenched with rain as he addressed the nation from outside Number 10, Starmer gave his speech indoors.
He said: “Over the course of the last four years, we have changed the Labour Party, returned it once more to the service of working people.
“All we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country and return Britain to the service of working people.”
Starmer also compared the SNP to the Tories.
“We can deliver economic stability. Cut the NHS waiting times. Secure our borders with a new Border Security Command,” he said.
“Harness Great British Energy to cut your bills for good. Tackle anti-social behaviour.
“And get the teachers we need in your children’s classroom.
“But most of importantly of all, we do all this with a new spirit of service. Country first, party second.
“A rejection of the gesture politics you will see in this campaign, I have no doubt, from the Tories and the SNP.”
Labour begins the campaign in a strong position, with a 20-point lead over the Conservatives, but with a stiff challenge after suffering its worst defeat in decades in 2019.
Boundary changes have added to that challenge, with Labour needing a bigger swing than Tony Blair achieved in 1997 if the party is to win a majority.
Acknowledging it would feel like a “long campaign”, Starmer set out three reasons to vote Labour: “stop the chaos”, “it’s time for change” and his party’s “long-term plan to rebuild Britain”.
He mentioned “change” eight times in his five-minute speech, and repeated “stop the chaos” three times.
After criticising the state of Britain’s public services, rivers and economy, Sir Keir warned that a vote for the Conservatives would mean they felt “entitled to carry on exactly as they are” and “nothing will change”.
In contrast, he said, Labour offered to “turn the page on all that” and “reset both our economy and our politics”.
