Keir Starmer Speech Live: PM Says Things Are ‘worse Than We Ever Imagined’ In First Keynote Address At No 10
1724749902PM: ‘We have seen shocking scenes across the nation’Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the “shocking scenes” the country witnessed and blamed the Conservatives for the far-right riots.
He slammed “those who have exploited grieving families” of the Stockport victims. Adding that the violence “exposed the state of our country” and “revealed the cracks in our society after decades of decline”.
The prime minister blamed the Tories’ populism and politics of performance for the far-right riots in the last weeks.
(The Times)Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 10:11
1724749655Sir Keir Starmer is speaking from Downing StreetThe prime minister addresses the audience by reminding of Labour’s promises and claimed the government has already accomplished more than the Tories during their time in government.
He said: “I promised this government will serve people like you. I promised that we will get a grip on the challenges we faced.
“And we will be judged on our actions, not words. Growth is the number one priority of this Labour government.”
Slamming the Tories, he added: “We have done more in seven weeks than the last government has done in seven years.”
Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 10:07
1724749368Watch live: Starmer vows Labour will reverse ‘populism and failure’ of Tories in first key speech as PMSalma Ouaguira27 August 2024 10:02
1724749328Sir Keir Starmer is set to address the nation shortly
Stage ready for the prime minister’s speech in Downing Street (The Times YouTube)Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 10:02
1724748825Coming up: Sir Keir Starmer is giving a speech in the Downing Street rose garden at 10amWe are less than 10 minutes away from the prime minister’s keynote speech from No10.
Sir Keir will address the nation to promise to “reverse a decade of decline” and vow to “root out 14 years of rot” under the Conservatives. He will also attempt to blame the previous government for the state of the economy.
Stay tuned to follow the latest updates and analysis from our political team.
Journalists ready to hear Sir Keir Starmer’s keynote speech from Downing Street’s rose garden (BBC)Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 09:53
1724748603VOICES: It’s about time the elderly were prevented from votingIf Labour refuse to give the vote to under-18s – despite having made it an election pledge – they should instead take it away from the over-80s, argues Tristan Clark Lam:
Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 09:50
1724748189What time is Sir Keir Starmer’s speech today?Sir Keir Starmer is set to deliver a major keynote speech this morning from Downing Street.
The prime minister will address the nation around 10am to promise that his government will do the “hard work” to “root out 14 years of rot” under the Conservatives.
The speech and press conference, ahead of MPs returning to Westminster on Monday, will be an attempt by Sir Keir to manage expectations about the time needed to turn things around – he has previously spoken about the need for a “decade of national renewal”, implying at least two terms of Labour rule.
“Next week, Parliament will return. The business of politics will resume, but it will not be business as usual,” the prime minister will say.
(EPA)Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 09:43
1724748097Starmer must ‘stop behaving like a leader of the opposition’, says shadow frontbencherThe shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology has said Sir Keir Starmer needs to “stop behaving like a leader of the opposition and start governing.”
Andrew Griffith also called for the prime minister to set out how he will “stop the rot in terms of cronyism corrupting the civil service”.
The party is battling allegations of cronyism amid criticism of a number of appointments made by the Labour Party, with several people linked to the party or Labour-supporting think tanks taking up roles in the civil service, bringing into question its political impartiality.
Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Griffith said: “If the prime minister wants to rebuild trust in politics, which we all do, we’ve had an election, he needs to stop behaving like a leader of the opposition and start governing.
He added: “So if the prime minister wants to talk today as the prime minister, I’d like to hear from him about how he’s getting on with delivering the things in the manifesto, how he’s going to stop the rot in terms of cronyism corrupting the civil service.
“I’d like him to ask his independent adviser to investigate those of his cabinet ministers who appear to have breached the ministerial code by appointing people that some of them have previously received large donations from without disclosing that. And that is how you rebuild the all-important issue of trust in politics.”
Millie Cooke 27 August 2024 09:41
1724748003Zahawi compares Tory infighting in government to Game of ThronesA former Conservative chancellor has accused his party of forming a “circular firing squad”, comparing it to infighting in the Game of Thrones.
Nadhim Zahawi, who served briefly as chancellor in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, said members of his party still “want to tear chunks out of one another”, something he said “breaks his heart”.
Speaking to Times Radio, the former MP for Stratford-on-Avon said: “The greatest threat to our party today is we still want to tear chunks out of one another.
“People are not yet prepared to unite. That breaks my heart. Until we’re ready to unite and come together, we will be shouting into the void.
“This could be a moment in history where you could literally pinpoint the timeline where the Conservative Party fell apart”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 09:40
1724747403Shadow minister refuses to ‘hear one syllable out of Starmer’s voice’ until he tackles cronyism rowShadow Science Secretary Andrew Griffith has said that he does not “want to hear one syllable out of the prime minister’s voice on trust” until he says how he’s going to “stop the rot in terms of cronyism corrupting the civil service”
The Tory MP told Sky News: “No government of any flavour has ever done that before, and these appointments should be rescinded,” and added that Sir Keir Starmer should be looking at “which of his ministers have broken the ministerial code – very important”.
Asked whether trust in politics was lost under Rishi Sunak, he added: “We’ve had an election, and we abide by the result of that. I do think that you lose trust in politics when politicians don’t do what they say they will do.
“We saw with Labour there was nothing in the manifesto about scrapping the winter fuel allowance, which is going to cost millions of pensioners dear.
“There was nothing about the political choice they’ve made to give inflation-busting pay rises to unions that were big donors to the Labour Party.
“There’s a growing stench about this Government. It’s very early days, and in particular, this idea that putting in political supporters to some of the most senior Civil Service roles that would normally take somebody in the Civil Service a lifetime’s career to attain. It’s just not acceptable.
“Anyone who’s interested in standards in public life, in restoring trust in politics, needs to see the prime minister get a real grip to this issue before he talks about anything else in the rose garden today.”
Shadow Science Secretary Andrew Griffith (Sky News)Salma Ouaguira27 August 2024 09:30
