Keir Starmer’s speech on fixing the foundations of our country: 27 August 2024

PM Keir Starmer offers a speech on fixing the foundations of our nation

After I stood on the steps of Downing Road – simply over there – two months in the past.

I promised this authorities would serve individuals such as you. 

Apprentices. Lecturers. Nurses. Small enterprise house owners. Firefighters. 

These serving our group and our nation daily. 

I promised that we might get a grip on the issues we face.

And that we might be judged by our actions, not by our phrases. 

I stated earlier than the election – and I say it once more actually clearly as we speak:

Development.

And, frankly, by that I do imply wealth creation…

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is the primary precedence of this authorities.

That’s why, in our first few weeks, we arrange the Nationwide Wealth Fund –

as a result of we would like each particular person and each group to profit. 

It’s why we’ve unlocked planning choices –

As a result of we’re going to construct 1.5 million new houses. 

It’s why we’ve arrange Nice British Power – 

To create good jobs and lower individuals’s payments. 

And it’s why we ended the nationwide strikes which have crippled our nation for years. 

As a result of I defy anybody to inform me you could develop the economic system…

when individuals can’t get to work – as a result of the transport system is damaged.

Or can’t return to work – as a result of they’re caught on an NHS ready record.

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And these are simply the primary steps in the direction of the change that individuals voted for. 

The change I’m decided to ship. 

However earlier than the election I additionally gave a warning.

I stated change wouldn’t occur in a single day. 

When there’s deep rot within the coronary heart of a construction, you possibly can’t simply cowl it up.

You possibly can’t tinker with it or depend on fast fixes. 

You need to overhaul the complete factor. 

Sort out it at root. 

Even when it’s tougher work and takes extra time. 

As a result of in any other case what occurs?

The rot returns.

In all the identical locations.

And it spreads. 

Worse than earlier than. 

You recognize that – I do know that. 

That’s why this venture has all the time been about fixing the foundations of this nation. 

However I’ve to be trustworthy with you.

Issues are worse than we ever imagined. 

Within the first few weeks, we found a £22 billion black gap within the public funds. 

And earlier than anybody says ‘oh that is simply performative’.

Or ‘taking part in politics’.

Let’s keep in mind.

The OBR didn’t learn about this.

They didn’t know.

They wrote a letter saying they didn’t know.

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Even simply final Wednesday, we came upon that

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We borrowed nearly £5 billion greater than the OBR anticipated within the final three months alone.

That’s not performative – that’s truth. 

However in addition to the issues we’ve found, we’ve additionally seen stunning scenes throughout the nation. 

A senseless minority of thugs – who thought they might get away with inflicting chaos. 

Smashing up communities and terrifying minorities. 

Vandalising and destroying individuals’s property. 

Even making an attempt to set hearth to a constructing – with human beings inside it. 

And as if that wasn’t despicable sufficient. 

Folks displaying swastika tattoos.

Shouting racist slurs on our streets. 

Nazi salutes on the cenotaph –

The cenotaph – the very place we honour those that gave their lives for this nation. 

Desecrating their reminiscence….

Beneath the pretence – and it’s a pretence – of ‘respectable protest’.

Now they’re studying that crime has penalties. 

That I gained’t tolerate a break down in regulation and order below any circumstances. 

And I cannot hearken to those that exploit grieving households, and disrespect native communities.

However these riots didn’t occur in a vacuum.

They uncovered the state of our nation.

Revealed a deeply unhealthy society.

The cracks in our basis laid naked – 

Weakened by a decade of division and decline.

Contaminated by a spiral of populism…

Which fed off cycles of failures

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Caught within the rut of the politics of efficiency. 

And I noticed the start of that downward spiral firsthand.

Again in 2011.

When riots ripped by way of London and throughout the nation. 

I used to be then Director of Public Prosecutions. 

And after I suppose again to that point.

I see simply how far we’ve got fallen. 

As a result of responding to these riots was arduous – after all it was.

However coping with the riots this summer time was a lot tougher. 

In 2011, I didn’t doubt the courts might do what they wanted to do.

This time – to be trustworthy with you – I genuinely didn’t know.

Let me let you know this. Day by day of that dysfunction – actually daily – we needed to test the exact variety of jail locations we had and the place these locations have been.

To verify we might arrest, cost and prosecute individuals shortly. 

Not having sufficient jail locations is about as basic a failure as you will get. 

And people individuals throwing rocks, torching vehicles, making threats.

They didn’t simply know the system was damaged.

They have been betting on it.

Gaming it.

They thought – ‘ah, they’ll by no means arrest me.

And in the event that they do, I gained’t be prosecuted.

And if I’m, I gained’t get a lot of a sentence.’

They noticed the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure – and so they exploited them. 

That’s what we’ve got inherited.

Not simply an financial black gap.

A societal black gap. 

And that’s we’ve got to take motion and do issues in another way.

And a part of that’s being trustworthy with individuals – concerning the decisions we face.

And How powerful this shall be.

And albeit – issues will worsen earlier than they get higher.

I didn’t need to launch prisoners early. 

I used to be Chief Prosecutor for 5 years. 

It goes in opposition to the grain of all the things I’ve ever finished. 

However to be blunt – if we hadn’t taken that tough resolution instantly.

We wouldn’t have been ready to answer the riots as we did. 

And if we don’t take powerful motion throughout the board.

We gained’t be capable of repair the foundations of the nation as we want. 

I didn’t need to means check the Winter Gasoline Cost. 

But it surely was a alternative we needed to make. 

A alternative to guard essentially the most susceptible pensioners.

whereas doing what is critical to restore the general public funds. 

As a result of pensioners additionally depend on a functioning NHS.

Good public transport.

Sturdy nationwide infrastructure. 

They need their kids to have the ability to purchase houses.

They need their grandchildren to get a very good schooling.

So we’ve got made that tough resolution –

To fix the general public funds.

So everybody advantages in the long run –

Together with pensioners. 

Now that may be a tough commerce off. 

And there shall be extra to come back. 

I gained’t shrink back from making unpopular choices now…

If it’s the proper factor for the nation in the long run. 

That’s what a authorities of service means. 

This shouldn’t be a rustic the place individuals worry strolling down their road.

Their TVs exhibiting vehicles and buildings being set on hearth.

This shouldn’t be a rustic the place the Prime Minister can’t assure jail locations.

This shouldn’t be a rustic the place individuals are paying hundreds extra on their mortgage. 

Or ready months for hospital appointments they desperately want. 

The place our waters are stuffed with sewage.

The place mother and father fear that their children gained’t get the alternatives they did. 

The place nothing appears to work anymore. 

So, after I speak concerning the inheritance the final authorities left us…

The £22 billion black gap in our funds…

This isn’t a few line on a graph.

That’s about individuals’s lives. 

Your lives.

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This authorities gained’t all the time be excellent, however I promise you this:

You shall be on the coronary heart of it…

Within the forefront of our minds…

On the centre of all the things we do.  

That’s why I wished to ask you right here as we speak.

To indicate that respectable, hard-working individuals who make up the spine of this nation belong right here. 

This authorities is for you.

A backyard and a constructing that have been as soon as used for lockdown events…

Keep in mind the photographs simply over there? With the wine and the meals.

Effectively this backyard…

And this constructing…

are actually again in your service.

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These issues occurred exactly as a result of the federal government itself misplaced its focus.

on the hopes and ambitions of working individuals. 

Throughout these current riots, I made large asks…

of the police and of the prison justice system –

Folks already stretched to the restrict.

They knew I used to be making large asks of them.

And I’m not going to apologise for it.

However let me let you know this – they delivered.

They deserve our gratitude.

And that’s why I went to Southport…

To Lambeth…

To Belfast…

To thank them personally. To shake the palms of the primary responders who rose as much as the ask I product of them.

They deserve a authorities that trusts them.

Helps them.

And works with them. 

That’s the type of authorities we shall be.

One which works with individuals, not does issues to them. 

One which believes in arduous graft, not gimmicks.

Trustworthy concerning the challenges we face…

And dealing tirelessly to repair them. 

That’s how we are going to all the time work. 

Now, subsequent week, parliament returns.

The enterprise of politics will resume.

But it surely gained’t be enterprise as standard.

As a result of we will’t go on like this anymore. 

Issues must be finished in another way. 

We’ll do the arduous work to root out 14 years of rot.

Reverse a decade of decline. 

And repair the foundations. 

Between now and Christmas, we are going to stick with it as we’ve got began. 

Motion not phrases.

We’ll introduce laws and take choices to guard taxpayers’ cash.

To tackle the blockers by accelerating planning.

to construct houses and increase progress.

We’ll transfer ahead this autumn with harnessing the total potential of AI.

for progress and the general public good.  

We’ll carry rail service into public possession, placing passengers first. 

The most important levelling up of staff’ rights in a era to provide individuals safety, dignity and respect at work.

And Nice British Power shall be owned by the taxpayer, making a living for the taxpayer. 

Producing clear vitality and creating good jobs. 

That’s our focus for the remainder of the 12 months. 

However I shall be trustworthy with you.

There’s a finances coming in October.

and it’s going to be painful.

We now have no different alternative given the state of affairs that we’re in. 

So these with the broadest shoulders ought to bear the heavier burden.

And that’s why we’re cracking down on non-doms.

Those that made the mess ought to need to do their bit to scrub it up.

That’s why we’re strengthening the powers of the water regulator.

and backing powerful fines on water firms which have let sewage flood our rivers, lakes and seas. 

However simply as after I responded to the riots –

I’ll have to show to the nation and make large asks of you as properly.

To simply accept brief time period ache for long run good.

The tough trade-off for the real answer.

And I do know that in any case that you simply’ve been by way of – that may be a actually large ask and actually tough to listen to. 

That’s not the place we must be in.

It’s not the place I need to be in. 

However we’ve got to finish the politics of the straightforward reply that solves nothing. 

However I additionally know that we will get by way of this collectively. 

As a result of the riots didn’t simply betray the illness.

Additionally they revealed the remedy.

Discovered not within the cynical battle of populism.

However within the coming collectively of a rustic.

The individuals who obtained collectively the morning after.

Throughout the nation.

With their brooms, their shovels, their trowels.

And cleared up their group.

They reminded us who we actually are. 

I felt actual satisfaction in these individuals who cleaned up the streets.

Rebuilt the partitions.

Repaired the injury.

And I couldn’t assist serious about the apparent parallels. 

As a result of think about the satisfaction we are going to really feel as a nation.

When, after the arduous work of clearing up the mess is completed.

We now have a rustic that we’ve got constructed collectively. 

Constructed to final.

That belongs to each single considered one of us. 

And all of us have a stake in it.

Our arduous work rewarded – a dozen occasions over. 

As a result of we’ll have an economic system that works for everybody. 

An NHS not simply again on its toes, however match for the long run. 

Streets that everybody feels protected in. 

Now not depending on overseas dictators…

as a result of we’re producing our personal clear vitality proper right here.

And giving each baby – wherever they arrive from.

No matter their background.

The possibility – to go so far as their expertise will take them. 

I gained’t lose sight of that prize.

I gained’t lose sight of what we have been elected to do. 

And most significantly – I gained’t lose sight of the those who we have been elected to do it for. 

You.

That is our nation.

Let’s repair it – collectively.