By Eniola Amadu
The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer in his response to last week’s budget has revealed that the Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver.
The prime minister pushed back against his critics in an article for the Guardian asserting it was proper for the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to enforce additional tax of £266bn.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have urged the chancellor to quit amid claims she deceived voters after warning about the effects of reduced growth projections from the OBR.
Starmer is expected to counter those allegations and present a long-term economic strategy focused on deregulation, additional welfare reforms and stronger ties with the European.
“By delivering a big, bold long-term plan, not a set of quick fixes, we will renew Britain. We must become again a serious people, with a serious government, capable together of doing difficult things to regain control of our future,” he writes.
He will add that: “By having a clear mission to renew our economy, our communities and our state we will deliver the change we promised and then be judged on it at the next election.”
In response to his political critics, the prime minister said: “We will take on those on the left and right who only offer grievance and whose approach would lead to further decline. Because let me be clear – turning on the borrowing taps or returning us to austerity – that is the politics of decline and I will not accept it.”
Starmer in his speech will pledge additional deregulation and a fresh effort to reform the welfare system.
“We must also reform the welfare state itself – that is what renewal demands” he will say.
“Now – this is not about propping up a broken status quo. Nor is it because we want to look somehow politically ‘tough’. The Tories played that game and the welfare bill went up by £88bn.”
“If you’re not given the support you need to overcome your mental health issues, or if you are simply written off because you’re neurodivergent or disabled, then it can trap you in a cycle of worklessness and dependency for decades,” he added.
