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Turning his party around during a pandemic is proving tricky, but Labour leader Keir Starmer says he’s here for the long haul.
In the midst of a dip in the polls, what's his game plan? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sir-keir-starmer-interview-zoom-labour-leader-n805stfvr?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1613207330
In the midst of a dip in the polls, what's his game plan? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sir-keir-starmer-interview-zoom-labour-leader-n805stfvr?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1613207330
On those poll numbers 
"In a pandemic most people want the government to succeed, because that affects them, their family and their friends.
It is very difficult for the opposition to break through in ordinary times - but in a pandemic, it’s particularly difficult.”
"In a pandemic most people want the government to succeed, because that affects them, their family and their friends.
It is very difficult for the opposition to break through in ordinary times - but in a pandemic, it’s particularly difficult.”
“When you’ve lost to everyone, you don’t look at the electorate and say, what were you doing? You look at yourself and say, what were we doing?
“We’ve made important steps…we’ve established ourselves as an effective opposition. Have we got a long way to travel? You bet.”
“We’ve made important steps…we’ve established ourselves as an effective opposition. Have we got a long way to travel? You bet.”
On the future 
Next week, Starmer believes, will mark a turning point.
He will give a speech setting out the “fork in the road”. The Tories, he’ll say, offer more of the same — a return to the “broken system” of austerity.
Labour would follow Clement Attlee’s government.
Next week, Starmer believes, will mark a turning point.
He will give a speech setting out the “fork in the road”. The Tories, he’ll say, offer more of the same — a return to the “broken system” of austerity.
Labour would follow Clement Attlee’s government.
“I think the Tories will take the road back to business as usual. There are already signs of that: council tax hikes, universal credit, the public sector pay freeze.”
“There are huge numbers in the Tory party who absolutely believe in that model and want to go back to it.”
“There are huge numbers in the Tory party who absolutely believe in that model and want to go back to it.”
On business 
He wants the government to treat business’ coronavirus debt like student debt, only asking them to start paying it back when they are profitable again.
He wants the government to treat business’ coronavirus debt like student debt, only asking them to start paying it back when they are profitable again.
On taxes 
Balancing the books should not be the priority while the economy is recovering.
“You don’t balance the books and you don’t choke off the recovery by raising taxes on the one hand or reverting to austerity on the other. You’ve got to get your economy to thrive.”
Balancing the books should not be the priority while the economy is recovering.
“You don’t balance the books and you don’t choke off the recovery by raising taxes on the one hand or reverting to austerity on the other. You’ve got to get your economy to thrive.”
On Jeremy Corbyn 
He hasn’t spoken to his predecessor since September.
Is there a way back for him? Starmer says Corbyn must apologise. “The ball is, at the moment, in Jeremy’s court.”
He hasn’t spoken to his predecessor since September.
Is there a way back for him? Starmer says Corbyn must apologise. “The ball is, at the moment, in Jeremy’s court.”
On the monarchy 
When pressed about a video where a younger Starmer boasts of having called for the abolition of the monarchy, he concedes that he was once a republican.
“That has never been a central part of my politics,” he says. “My politics has been about inequality.”
When pressed about a video where a younger Starmer boasts of having called for the abolition of the monarchy, he concedes that he was once a republican.
“That has never been a central part of my politics,” he says. “My politics has been about inequality.”
You can read the full interview here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sir-keir-starmer-interview-zoom-labour-leader-n805stfvr
