Sir Keir Starmer today faced a backlash from Labour’s Left as he revealed he had abandoned 10 ‘socialist’ pledges he made when standing to be party leader.
As he ran for Jeremy Corbyn’s election, the Labour leader abandoned his 2020 promises and put the blame on the Covid crisis.
Sir Keir confirmed that he had completely scrapped Labour’s manifesto for the 2019 general election. This included a pledge to nationalise large swathes.
Sir Keir, in an attempt to distance his party from its left-wing, reiterated that Labour frontbenchers must not join striking rail workers at picket lines tomorrow.
He declined to comment on whether he supported inflation-matching wage increases for workers in the public sector during the crisis.
Furious MPs protested Sir Keir’s abandonment by Labour’s policies to nationalise energy, rail and water companies.
Party activists maintained that he wouldn’t have been elected Labour leader to succeed Mr Corbyn had he been honest about his intentions.
In a round of TV and radio interviews this morning, Sir Keir told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Labour’s manifesto promises from the last election – when they were led by Mr Corbyn – were ‘gone’.
He said, “We begin from scratch going forward.”
Sir Keir revealed that he no longer stands by his pledges when he ran for Labour leader in 2020.
He said, “The financial position has changed and the debt situation also has changed.”
Sir Keir’s site still has the same 10 promises. It states that they’re ‘based upon moral arguments for socialism.
His pledges included a promise to “support common ownership” of railroad, mail, energy, water and other resources.
Sir Keir pledged, “public services should remain in public hands, and not make profits for shareholders.”
Sir Keir Starmer abandoned the 2020 promises he made, while he ran to succeed Jeremy Corbyn and laid the blame for the Covid crisis’ economic effects.
Sir Keir also reneged Labour’s pledges before the 2019 general Election, when they were headed by Jeremy Corbyn
Sir Keir made 10 promises that were deemed’socialist”: he promised to support common ownership of railway, mail, energy, and water.
As Labour abandoned its promise to bring those important economic sectors under public control, Sir Keir blamed Britain for Covid’s debts.
The cost to taxpayers’ of Labour’s plans for mass nationalisations has previously been estimated to be £196bn.
Confirming the U-turn, Sir Keir told BBC Breakfast: ‘We’ve had the pandemic which has changed the debt situation for the country quite considerably.
“Unusually for an Opposition, before an Election, we have said that we want to be financially responsible. We’ll make rules so everyone knows how we plan on funding every thing we say we would.
“That is to say that day-to day spending will increase through daily outcomes. We will not invest in future investments and will reduce debt.
Not only was Labour’s Left furious at Sir Keir for abandoning his party’s position regarding nationalisation but there were also signs of tensions inside Sir Keir’s shadow cabinet.
Louise Haigh (shadow transport secretary) pointedly tweeted that Labour was ‘committed’ to rail ownership and the return of control to the public bus system.
Angela Rayner (Labour deputy leader) shared the tweet.
Sir Keir stated that Labour will not reverse the decision to nationalize the railway network because of the pandemic to calm anger.
He said, “On rail, large sections are in public ownership, and we would continue that.”
However, the Labour leader said that he will not make any promises about nationalization in other areas.
‘For the other sectors we need to fix the problems… but we’ve got to recognise that after the pandemic we’re in a different situation financially to the situation that we were in before,’ Sir Keir added.
‘And we want a responsible government that says if we’re going to do something we will tell you how we’re going to pay it.
‘The single most important thing is how we grow the economy, re-energise the economy, and that can’t be reduced to a discussion about nationalisation.’
Sir Keir was also interviewed about public sector workers’ demands for pay increases that are inflation-matched during the cost of living crisis.
However, the Labour leader did not say whether he was in favor of huge increases.
He said, “That’s an open question for all those at the table that are negotiating.”
“We hope they come to an arrangement.” As you can see, agreements were made in the last weeks.
“The government’s job is to provide the conditions for successful negotiations.”
Louise Haigh (shadow transport secretary) pointed out on Twitter that Labour has ‘committed’ to the public ownership of railways
Britons being advised to travel only if absolutely necessary as RMT union stages another strike on rails as they push for massive pay increases.
Sir Keir experienced a breakdown in Labour discipline when some MPs, including Kate Osborne defied his orders not to join picketlines outside of train stations.
Richard Burgon (former shadow minister for Labour) and Diane Abbott (former Labour Shadow Ministers), who were both part of Mr Corbyn’s top team, attacked Sir Keir about his nationalization U-turn.
Former shadow home secretary Ms. Abbott stated: “Nationalization is an agreed Labour Party Policy, which was in the manifesto that we all were elected upon.
“More importantly it is crucial for the economic revolution we require, to cut costs, create well-paid job opportunities and eliminate the lack of investment.
Former shadow justice secretary Mr Burgon said that the greatest Labour government ever came to power in 1945.
“It changed our country through the establishment of the NHS, which was a massive house-building programme, and the introduction of energy and rail into the public domain.
“That bold vision should be what Labour stands for right now.”
Momentum, a left-leaning pressure group, emerged from Mr Corbyn’s Labour leadership campaigns. It claimed that Sir Keir had lied to workers and members.
They warned Labour leader that there would be a struggle over the policy of public ownership during the party’s conference in Liverpool this September.
Sir Keir also came under attack for abandoning his 10 leadership commitments.
Matt Zarb Cusin was Mr Corbyn’s former spokesman. He stated: “If Starmer had been honest about his intentions or even if there were any ambiguity, he wouldn’t have won the presidency.
‘That is why he felt the need to publish the 10 pledges, and foreground them on his website and a mass mailout to all members that would’ve cost tens of thousands.’
Sir Keir also confirmed this morning that he will tell his shadow frontbench to not go on picket lines at train stations when there are strikes.
Britons being advised to travel only if absolutely necessary as RMT union stages another strike on rails as they push for massive pay increases.
Sir Keir, Labour’s trade union backinger, caused an uproar by ordering top MPs to refrain from joining picket lines during the first mass rail worker walkout last month.
He suffered an outburst in party discipline after a few Labour frontbenchers rebelled against his orders.
In his efforts to portray Labour as a government-in-waiting, Sir Keir this morning reissued the order for his shadow team not to join those on strike outside train stations.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: ‘It’s quite open to people to express their support for working people who are struggling to pay their bills.
‘But I’m very clear that the Labour Party in opposition needs to be the Labour Party in power.
‘And a government doesn’t go on picket lines, a government tries to resolve disputes.
‘I’m so frustrated with our Government because they could step in and help solve the dispute… I think the Government just wants to feed on the division.’
Sir Keir did not sack those frontbenchers that defied him to avoid joining picketlines outside of train stations last week, but the group were still spoken to by Alan Campbell, Labour’s chief whip.