Labour leader Keir Starmer: 'Rishi Sunak strangled levelling up at birth'

uh, K Starm, you never really liked Boris Johnson, but you seem to admire his vision of raising the country's standards, a vision he tried to implement if it weren't for Rishi Sunak. Could Johnson have succeeded? I think Rishi Sunak

strangled

level-up at

birth

. because I wouldn't put funds behind this and we know what the consequences are, but look, I'm talking about the idea of ​​leveling up in the sense of getting rid of the inequality that we see throughout the region and that has existed for years and years. and years, but if we are really going to make a difference, we desperately need to make a difference.

So that requires a workable plan and it requires someone to put in the effort. You admire Johnson's effort, even if the Chancellor says well to the Prime Minister. Minister and then Chan, as you said,

strangled

him at

birth

, in your opinion, I think the idea that I'm trying to get him to say something nice about Boris Johnson, make good of my frustration with him, I actually think the idea of ​​that was put before the electorate in 2019 by Boris Johnson was right, I'll say that, but what that requires and this is where I get frustrated is do you really believe that and is it important, that's why I said in my speech to pray for people's hopes.

I wanted it to happen, if you really believe that, I'm afraid you have to roll up your sleeves, you have to put a plan on the table, you have to do the hard yards and therefore what is unforgivable about Boris Johnson is to have made the So he didn't do the hard delivery work and that is why people feel even more disappointed, that is why there has been a lot of talk today about the disappointment that is created by that feeling that something is offered that really matters to people. , but a Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who was not prepared or did not have the means to carry it out and you talk about devolution as a way to drive leveling up, but at the moment what is needed is basic funding of the Advice.

I just asked you earlier if you will guarantee that emergency funding for local government. The association estimates that municipalities will need 4 billion in the next 2 years just to maintain basic services. He told me that I can't pretend that we can turn on the taps and spend it. Taps, that's a no, you're not going to commit that money. I can't turn on Taps spending but I think your answer requires something more comprehensive than that because I'm very concerned about councils of all political stripes who are struggling as much as they are with their finances because of course the people who look will say: well, my services may not be provided, so there are things we can do.

I think the financing agreement could be changed to a longer agreement. Many Council

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s will say that. It will make a big difference, we can stabilize, fair, another two will stabilize the economy, that will reduce inflation, that has been a big drag on councils. The other change we can make immediately is not the fault of the victories that the government promised it has not delivered. That means a lot of people losing their accommodation are a burden on councilors who have to spend a lot of money, so what I can say Beth is that the funding arrangement can change, we can reduce the pressure on the Council so they have more cash available and I will say this that at the end of an incoming Labor government the councils will be better funded, more sustainable and able to provide their services than now, that is if in five years time if you win the election you said that at the end of an incoming Labor government the first steps can be taken immediately the northern evictions the three year agreements the union of payments the stability of the economy but you know I am asking for a cash injection can you just be talking about three year financing agreements for the viewer at home?

Does that mean an upfront cash injection for councils that could be about to go bankrupt for onlookers who think my council tax bill is about to rise by 20%. Which is what happened in Birmingham, which means it's not a blanket cash injection, but it does mean reducing the burden. about councils spending money on things like homelessness, spending money on interest rates that we and spending money, um, inefficiently, we can do it straight away, but what you're putting to me is the central problem of politics right now, which is after 14 years. Almost everything is broken, including our councils, but our NHS, our public services, our economy, it's a long list of Broken.

That's why the main point I made this morning is that there is a choice in this election and that is to roll back 14 years of chaos and Usher. In a decade of national renewal, if it is broken and emergency funds are needed, why can't taxes be raised for those in society who can best afford it? saying why K Starma doesn't find other tax increases to do this, that's a fair argument isn't it? We already have the highest tax burden since World War II and we have to grow our economy, but it could be done. Beth also expressed to me the poor state of our Health Service, the poor state of social care, the poor state of childcare, the poor state of all our Public Services, all of which after 14 years are on their knees, now our work will be Don't make promises we can't keep, but build these institutions.

Public services so that they can meet the needs of the people. Okay, to show that you are on the right path, although to win you need to get hundreds of conservative advisors and conquer the West. Midlands you side Mes in these places, don't you want to show yourself the way to win a general election? I remind myself that in 2019 we lost very very badly, we had to change parties, learn the lessons and get revenge for one or two seat majority in the general election uh we have to have a bigger change than Blair, come on Going into these local elections, we have many of the seats we are fighting for, so I am not going to predict exactly how many we will have.

Whether we win or not, we go in humbly knowing that we have to earn the votes locally from now until May 2nd and we will do so by presenting our positive plan and K, you were very direct today in your defense of Angela Raina. allegation that she did not pay capital gains tax when she sold a house in 2015. Have you seen that you say that you take her at her word that she says that she has had legal advice? Have you personally seen that legal advice? No, it's not necessary, it's not appropriate for me. To do this, my team relies on Angela's team, she has taken the

leader

ship of Vice, she has answered countless questions from the media about this and she has been very clear, if the authorities want more information, she will be more than happy to provide it to them .

I have all the information. Total trust and support in her. Are you going to come out and defend her and you haven't actually seen the evidence? You are worried? It's enough for you. Aren't you worried that this could come back to bite you? No, I have faith. in Angela Raina's answers, she has answered so many times about this. I know she has received legal advice. My team has examined it. Her team has examined it. It is not necessary for me to personally look at it nor is it appropriate to do so, but I do. I think taking a step back is a sign of how desperate the Tes are that they want to make this the issue in a local election that should be about their failure to deliver.

Well, last question. Tam Water could be facing the risk of emergency rationalization due to the funding crisis. deepens the terms water of saying that bills may need to increase Increase by 40% uh to pay for the improvements what should the government and the regulator be doing and should they be prepared to spend billions? bond on TS water I'm very concerned about this as anyone who is a customer um it will be um it's up to the government in place right now to look at this and make sure that T water is viable and provides the water that people need obviously If we look at this ourselves, I think there is a broader issue about proper enforcement of water regulations and I would have to be accountable to the leadership of these organizations on issues such as sewage, if a water company is involved in wastewater discharges above the limits, then employers should not receive a bonus and I am very clear that you spoke at the top about disillusionment and there is an enthusiasm gap in this moment.

When I look at his approval ratings, it's -25, now he'll take comfort in that fact. Ry will soon impose isus 46 taxes, but why do you think you personally haven't closed the deal with the electorate? It's about you? Is this a broader issue of disillusionment in politics? Well, look, I think we all need to make sure that we're doing everything we can to restore confidence in the electorate. I think after 14 years, too many people feel like their hope has been taken away, that they desperately want things to get better, but they don't believe they can get better.

We do. I have to turn that around and you know, as you've seen Beth over the four years or so since I've been leader of this party, we've been moving forward and progressing all the way. I intend to continue with that, but is it a challenge? Yes, it is difficult after 14 years of opposition. Yes, it is difficult after the electoral defeat we had last time. Yes, I am absolutely determined to do it and I believe we can. It is. well, Mr. K, thank you very much, thank you