MANY on Twitter have been left asking “what’s the point of Labour” after Keir Starmer’s interview with Laura Kuenssberg.
The Labour leader faced fierce criticism after being quizzed on a number of topics including his plans to grow the economy, housing and child benefits.
He also refused to reject a label that he was a “fiscal conservative” and continually ducked a question on his plans for public services.
Starmer criticised a lack of “long-term thinking” and reform over the last 13 years of a Conservative-led government, saying: “If all we do is simply patch up and keep going then we won’t fix the fundamentals and that’s why reform is so important.”
Pressed on whether he would spend more money, Starmer said: “A Labour government will always want to invest in its public services. The way to invest in our public services is to grow our economy.”
As well as this, he also said Labour would not reverse the two-child benefit cap to which Stephen Flynn tweeted: “No change, no hope.”
Several SNP politicians shared Flynn’s sentiments, with Alison Thewliss also tweeting: “Again, what is the point of the Labour Party? The two-child limit has a massive impact on child poverty, it’s difficult to see how that can ever be tackled without scrapping it.”
🥀 Again, what is the point of the Labour Party? The two child limit has a massive impact on child poverty, it's difficult to see how that can ever be tackled without scrapping it. https://t.co/ka2mjsINb8
— Alison Thewliss 🧡 (@alisonthewliss) July 16, 2023
John Nicolson tweeted something similar, describing the interview as “bleak” and again asking “what’s the point in Labour”.
It wasn’t just members of the SNP who hit out at Starmer though. Labour MSPs Monica Lennon and Mercedes Villalba also hit out at the party’s leader.
Keir Starmer was elected leader of the Labour Party on a pledge to scrap the two child limit. It's what Labour members want, it's what the public expects, and it's what the country needs. Labour must be a Party of principle that puts the people first. pic.twitter.com/Scd3e2WDsZ
— Mercedes Villalba MSP (@LabourMercedes) July 16, 2023
The former, in response to Starmer’s stance on child benefits, tweeted: “This is the wrong position and it’s down to us as Labour members to change it.”
Villalba also put out a tweet calling out Starmer for abandoning his own pledge to scrap the current policy on child benefit.
She said: “Keir Starmer was elected leader of the Labour Party on a pledge to scrap the two-child limit.
What is really depressing about Starmer’s article and interviews today is that he has confirmed he is a full on Thatcherite. He has even gone so far as to say there is no alternative. I despair.
— Richard Murphy (@RichardJMurphy) July 16, 2023
“It’s what Labour members want, it’s what the public expects, and it’s what the country needs.
“Labour must be a party of principle that puts the people first.”
Elsewhere, Alba's general secretary Chris McEleny said: "Harold Wilson once told a Labour Party conference that the Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing.
"At the current rate, Keir Starmer will no doubt use his next conference speech to tell his party members that the Labour Party under his leadership is a moral vacuum or it is nothing."
Others also took to Twitter to share what they thought of the interview with National columnist and political economist Richard Murphy tweeting: “What is really depressing about Starmer’s article and interviews today is that he has confirmed he is a full-on Thatcherite.
“He has even gone so far as to say there is no alternative. I despair.”
Gerry Hassan meanwhile said: "Let's get this right about Keir Starmer. He will not commit to extra funding for public spending or pay rises for public service workers. But he WILL commit to retaining the two child benefit cap.
Let's get this right abt Keir Starmer. He will not commit to extra funding for public spending or pay rises for public service workers. But he WILL commit to retaining the two child benefit cap. Retaining punitive Conservative policies. Says it all. #KeirStarmer #bbclaurak
— Gerry Hassan 🇺🇦 (@GerryHassan) July 16, 2023
"Retaining punitive Conservative policies. Says it all."
Green MP Caroline Lucas meanwhile said: “Remind me what Labour is for? Utterly painful interview with #Starmer on #BBCLauraK – no vision, no hope, no change.”
