Low-tax pressure group says Starmer is ‘big on pledges but short on policies’

Responding to Keir Starmer’s speech this afternoon to the Labour Party conference, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, a low-tax pressure group, said:

“Starmer’s speech was big on pledges but short on policies.

“The Labour leader is right that taxpayers are concerned about the cost of living, and they will be pleased with his principle that working people and small firms shouldn’t be hammered by high taxes.

“But politicians of all parties need to explain exactly how they plan to cut Britain’s record tax burden.”

In his speech the Labour leader said under his leadership, the government would invest in modernising industry and education, reform mental health services, toughen the criminal justice system and tackle climate change with a ‘green new deal’ entailing a £28 billion yearly investment.

In an apparent jab at the party’s more radical economic policies pledged under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, Starmer said that a “strong society” could not be built “without a strong economy”.

He has received sharp criticisms from the left of party, with hecklers during his speech referring to his failure to commit to a £15 minimum wage.

In his resignation earlier this week, the shadow secretary of state for employment rights Andy McDonald said his position had become “untenable” following an order to argue against a £15 national minimum wage.