Keir Starmer pledges to 'change Britain' as Labour unveils general election manifesto

Keir Starmer said voters had the chance to "turn the page" on 14 years of "Conservative chaos" as he set out Labour’s plan for government.

Launching his party’s general election manifesto in Manchester today, the likely next prime minister claimed he had dragged Labour away from the “dead end of gesture politics” and it was now “time to change Britain”.

Starmer said that the UK was “still a great nation”, but it had lacked a “government that can match the ambition working people have”.

The manifesto also blamed the SNP for failing to "uphold standards expected in public life".

The document stated: "This is not limited to Westminster – in Scotland, the Scottish National Party has also failed to uphold the standards expected in public life.

"The scandals may be different, but the SNP has also sought to protect its own and failed to address the behaviour of its MPs and MSPs, from sexual harassment scandals to accusations of financial mismanagement and defending the inappropriate use of public expenses. The people of Scotland also deserve better from their representatives."

Starmer said the manifesto was meant to reassure voters that Labour can be trusted to grow the economy and “begin the work of national renewal”.

The launch event was interrupted by a climate protester as Starmer began his speech, with the demonstrator swiftly removed.

In his foreword to the document, the Labour leader said: “We must turn the page decisively on the Conservative ideas that have caused the chaos.

“The world has become increasingly volatile, with a major war in Europe for the first time in a generation and ever greater threats to the living standards of working people.

“This ‘age of insecurity’ requires the government to step up, not stand aside.”

Starmer said Labour’s task “will not be easy”.

“Not only because there is no quick fix to the mess the Conservatives have made. But also, because their failures have sapped our collective confidence that Britain can still achieve great things.”

Starmer rejected that defeatism, saying: “We are still a great nation. We can still achieve great things. What we lack as a government that can match the ambition working people have for their family and community, with a credible long-term plan.”

The Labour leader, who took over from Jeremy Corbyn following the 2019 electoral mauling the party suffered, said: “The defining purpose of my Labour leadership has been to drag my party away from the dead end of gesture politics and return it once more to the service of working people.

“I have changed my party. Now I want the chance to bring that change to the country.”

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