UK election 2024: Starmer sets out Labour’s economy-focused campaign manifesto

Britain’s opposition leader Keir Starmer said voters had the chance to “turn the page decisively” on 14 years of “Conservative chaos” as he set out Labour’s plan for government.

Launching his party’s manifesto ahead of the July 4 general election, Starmer said he had dragged Labour away from the “dead end of gesture politics” and it was now “time to change Britain.”

“Today we can lay a new foundation of stability,” Starmer said at Labour’s manifesto launch in Manchester, northwest England on Thursday.

Starmer is trying to preserve his party’s poll lead of more than 20 points over Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party, and publishing Labour’s manifesto without any major blow back is perhaps the last major stumbling block between him and 10 Downing Street. The document reiterated his party’s pledges not to increase any of income tax, VAT or national insurance, and also highlighted his plans to create a state-run clean energy company and reform planning rules.

“A manifesto for wealth creation, a plan to change,” Starmer said of his party’s pledges. “Today we can turn the page.”