Keir Starmer has hailed a “Labour moment”, describing the party as the “political wing of the people” in his keynote speech at the Labour conference in Liverpool. Setting out his plan for a Labour-run UK, Starmer said the party would establish a state-owned energy company, increase investment in the NHS and would aim to raise home ownership to 70%. Five voters share their views on the Labour leader’s speech. ‘It sounded very credible’
In general it was just good boring sensible politics – that was the key bit. This is a safe pair of hands, obviously there’s talent there with a talented team. It seems to me they’ve all done well to put across a disciplined message that makes sense. It feels like these guys could do a good running of the country – you’d have to try hard to do worse than the current shambles. It sounded very credible – imaginative policies they could deliver without going back to extreme nationalisation or extreme neoliberalism. I used to vote Labour in the Blair years, I thought they were a good government. I’m a Liberal Democrat member now because they’re deeply committed to a fairer electoral system. Dan Leighton, 51, small company director, Cambridge – Liberal Democrat voter ‘It’s the first time I have listened to a conference speech in full’
“I actually had tears in my eyes listening to his speech. The future has felt increasingly hopeless under the Conservatives and seems to go from awful to hellish. It is the first time I have ever listened to a conference speech in full. That it can bring out such deep emotion in me reflects the depth of my underlying stress and despair. I have thought myself that there is such opportunity for our country to lead the way in a green revolution and the many benefits this could bring. So to hear them outlining this as the Labour vision was music to my ears. “The climate crisis is becoming more and more obvious. It’s a really important challenge as a species and a planet, but there’s opportunities in it. There’s a way to turn things around where you can harness a new way of living so everyone can live in a nicer way. It felt very hopeful. Layla Hazeldon, 45, charity fundraiser, Uckfield – tactically voted Lib Dem in 2019 ‘Starmer needs to be more on the side of working people’
“Starmer and the Labour party have the best opportunity in years to pounce on the endless mistakes of the Tories, and truly appeal to people all over the UK and especially those votes lost during the last election. The idea of publicly owned green energy companies is certainly a big step forward but the party needs to also back initiatives to nationalise energy companies and the transport network. “However, Starmer needs to be seen to be more on the side of working people, and especially those who are desperately struggling. He also needs to do more when it comes to backing the unions. I was not happy to hear Starmer stating that he wouldn’t want to deal with the SNP. If we are going to cherish and promote democratic principles, we have to work with, and not against, the SNP.” Roz Salih, 39, lawyer and recruitment professional, London – Labour voter ‘I liked nearly all of it’
“I liked nearly all of it, in particular the vision of a state owned green energy company, finally someone talking sense. So many things have gone wrong because of private ownership, things might work better if they were nationalised or not for profit. We need a fundamental shake-up of how stuff is done. “I voted for the Conservatives in 2019 but would never vote Tory again. I did it because of my frustration with Brexit – everything had ground to a halt, nothing was happening and the message at the time was get it done and move on. “I’d like to see a focus on energy, the greener the better. I’d also like to see a debate and solution about the current state of our water supply. Water is a commodity that should not be privately owned. The amount of sewage being pumped into the sea and our rivers is scandalous.” Mel Rollinson, 61, part-time care worker, south Devon – voted for Conservatives in 2019 ‘Labour resemble a government in waiting’ “I feel Starmer was grasping the problems of my generation and providing hope of a greener, fairer Britain where one day I may be able to get on the housing ladder. Great British energy is badly needed and will garner wide support from all sides of the political spectrum. “Labour have reached a turning point and now resemble a government in waiting as opposed to an opposition party. The Johnny Marr outro music [Spirit Power and Soul] was the cherry on top!” Peter, 22, graduate, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Labour voter