Starmer denies scaling back his ambitions for government at campaign launch

The Labour leader set out the "first steps" he would take in government at a speech in Essex, ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston reports

Sir Keir Starmer has denied scaling back his ambitions for government as he outlined Labour’s doorstep offer to voters.

Speaking in Essex, the Labour leader set out his party’s offer to the public, bringing together a number of previously announced policies.

They include measures to invest in the NHS, education and policing, to set up a new national energy company and an elite border force, and to promote economic stability.

Sir Keir hit back at suggestions the pledges were a scaled-back version of his party’s ambitions for government set out previously in five missions for “national renewal”.

“I’m not scaling back our ambition absolutely at all", the Labour leader insisted to reporters.

ITV's Political Editor Robert Peston asked the Labour leader what his response would be to those who say his "first steps", aren't "ambitious enough".

"They're first steps towards the missions, which are a huge change", Sir Keir insisted.

“If you’re waiting on an NHS waiting list, this is a change that makes a massive difference.”

In an interview with Robert Peston, Sir Keir promised that people will feel the difference from these policies from “day one”.

“There are things we can do absolutely straight away”, he said.

“The first step we set out today was about stabilising our economy and growing our economy, there are things there like getting rid of planning restrictions, we can do that straight away.”

Sir Keir said he will enact changes "straight away" if he's elected as prime minister:

“The Command Force we want to set up to deal with the small boats problem, that can be set up straight away.”

“Even the NHS appointments, which is obviously more complicated, we’re having the discussions now with NHS staff about how we can implement that as quickly as possible.”

ITV News reported this week that Labour lost a significant number of votes in majority Muslim areas at the local elections.

Asked what he was doing to try and win these voters back, Sir Keir said: “Where people who may have voted Labour in the past feel they can’t vote Labour at the moment, it’s very important I listen to that… I'm determined that we will win those votes back. But of course, that will require work on all of our parts.”

The Labour leader said five years into a potential Labour government, he wants people to feel the country is “moving forward”.

“I want the legacy of an incoming Labour government - if we're privileged enough to come into service - to be a genuine reflection where people could say my life has got better, my family's life has got better, my community, my country are moving forward.”

The new key poster unveiled today shows the pledges listed alongside a large image of Sir Keir, with his sleeves rolled up and the title "my first steps for change."

The shadow cabinet were drafted in to give speeches on each of the key missions.

Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said her message to voters was "we have your back".

"The Tories abused your trust, but Labour will never take you for granted", she promised.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting talked about his experience of battling cancer, "as a cancer survivor, I owe the NHS my life."

He insisted Labour will give the NHS the support it needs: "We know the NHS can be turned around, because we've done it before... We did it before, and we will do it again."

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour is “ready to serve, ready to lead and ready to rebuild Britain”.

Ed Miliband said Labour’s plan for a publicly-owned Great British Energy company will help Britain “take back control of our destiny”.

The shadow net zero secretary said: “Great British Energy will reap the benefits of Britain’s abundant natural resources with clean power projects and (help) communities across our country to cut bills and create the next generation of good jobs … this is how we take back control of our destiny.

“This is how we take cut bills for good and end the cost-of-living crisis, and this is how we meet our obligations for future generations.”

Various guests have joined the shadow cabinet giving speeches at the event and sending in video messages, including the CEO of Boots Seb James, and Neil Basu, Former Head of Counter Terrorism Policing.

The proposals will be provided to voters in physical form, but Labour steered away from directly comparing this to the pledge card given out by Sir Tony Blair ahead of the 1997 general election.

The launch will also be accompanied by an advertising campaign, which a Labour spokesman billed as their largest ad spend since the previous general election.

This is set to include ad vans and billboards featuring Sir Keir Starmer alongside the six steps, as well as material in local and regional newspapers located in key battleground seats.

A Labour spokesman insisted the steps were “not the sum total” of the party’s election offer when asked whether its other promises, including a new package of workers’ rights, would be side-lined.

“I do want to stress to you the other policy commitments that we have made stand,” he said.

“I would remind you for example… the national minimum wage was not on the pledge card in 1997, but it was one of the most important achievements of the Labour government, and in a similar vein, our manifesto will be our full offering.”

In a major speech last Friday, Sir Keir laid out his plan to tackle the small boats crisis by creating a new Border Security Command and expanding counter-terror powers.

He committed to scrapping the Rwanda plan, and using £75 million saved from that to fund their plan.

Sir Keir announced the plans in Deal - the seat of new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke, who sensationally quit the Tories earlier this week citing migration as one of her key issues for abandoning her party.

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The first steps are “very clear and simple” he insisted, and will not cause confusion among voters with the previously announced longer term five national missions.

Distinct Scottish and Welsh launches are expected in coming weeks with offers aimed at voters in the devolved nations.

Writing in the Daily Mirror, the Opposition leader described the steps as a “down payment on change” designed to “make Britain work again for working people”.

Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s speech, Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said: “Today’s speech was devoid of any plan for Britain.

“Sir Keir Starmer is a serial promise-breaker who doesn’t have the courage or conviction to stick to a single pledge he has ever made – just look at his last pledge card, which he abandoned the second he got the chance.

“His unfunded spending, higher taxes and amnesty for illegal migrants would take Britain back to square one.

“Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives are sticking with the plan to build a brighter future for British families, with inflation down from 11.1% to 3.2%, the economy growing and £900 back in hard-working people’s pockets – as well as a fair immigration system with boat crossings down.”

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