Starmer sets out stall as election approaches

Keir Starmer, leader of the United Kingdom's Labour Party, has unveiled six key pledges to voters should Labour emerge victorious in the country's next general election.

Speaking at an event on Thursday in the county of Essex, a likely key battleground in the yet-to-be-scheduled election, which is widely expected later this year, Starmer outlined his vision for what he described as a "decade of national renewal" after 14 years of government under the Conservative Party.

Labour has previously vowed to "make a real difference to people's lives", and Starmer further outlined his strategy, detailing what he has termed the party's "first steps to change Britain".

Last year, Starmer introduced five broad missions to transform the UK into a clean energy superpower, grow the economy, enhance the National Health Service, reform the justice system, and raise education standards.

On Thursday, he added a sixth pledge focused on border security, and promised urgent action on all issues.

He said the pledges enabled Labour to "look the public in the eye and say, this is our time, our down payment on change, these are the first shoots of the change that you deserve to see — first steps that are ready to go, fully costed and fully funded".

On immigration, he labeled the government's Rwanda initiative as a "gimmick" that "cost a fortune".He highlighted the role of criminal gangs, which he said exploit vulnerable individuals by placing them on boats bound for the UK.

He said Labour would introduce a new border security command with new resources, including counterterrorism powers.

He reaffirmed his promises to ensure "economic stability", which includes a commitment to keep taxes "as low as possible" and to establish a publicly-owned power company, Great British Energy.

Starmer said this new energy company would be one of the first steps toward having 100 percent of the UK's power being clean by 2030.

The list of promises aims to appeal to a diverse electorate, reaching beyond traditional Labour strongholds to crucial seats targeted by the Conservatives.

The headline speech took place as Labour maintains a lead in the polls over the Conservatives, and follows a series of local election wins in key battlegrounds.

Starmer indicated that Labour's local election successes demonstrated the party's capability to win across various regions.

In emphasizing his vision, he said: "You don't have to be 'tribally Labour'to want things to improve for your family." He added that he believes the majority shares this sentiment. "I genuinely think that most reasonable, tolerant people in this country — and that's the vast majority — do want to see… their country move forward."

The Conservative Party responded to the speech with a statement criticizing what they called Labour's "16th relaunch", asserting that it "won't amount to a hill of beans".

Chair of the party, Richard Holden, said: "Today's speech was devoid of any plan for Britain. His unfunded spending, higher taxes and amnesty for illegal migrants would take Britain back to square one."