Sir Keir Starmer is set to give a major speech on the economy tomorrow. According to Labour insiders, the speech will be the first salvo in a policy blitz by the party. It will also mark the start of Starmer’s new, more aggressive approach, one more vocally critical of the government.
The planned speech will let Starmer stake out his economic vision for the country ahead of Rishi Sunak’s budget, due on 4 March, which by custom he, not Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds, will reply to. Starmer has so far positioned himself as being broadly supportive of government measures – merely criticising it for being too slow and ineffectual. Now he has an opportunity to build his own brand beyond an image of sensible – some would say “dull” – competence.
