My plan to build Britain up after decade of Tory failure

THE vaccine has given us all hope that the end of the pandemic is in sight. Now we must start thinking about the country we want to be after the crisis.

After the war there was a determination to build a better

Britain. We owed it to all those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

I believe that determination is present again today. Covid has shown us the best of Britain – but it has shown us how much needs to change too.

The Government has been too slow at every stage. It has failed our most vulnerable in care homes and wasted billions in taxpayers’ money on crony contracts – as well as a pay rise for Dominic Cummings.

We’ve had the worst death toll in Europe and the worst economic crisis of any major economy. But this pandemic has exposed how the foundations of our country have been weakened by the Conservatives over the last decade.

Our public services have been undermined, town centres have been run down, child poverty has shot up. We can’t go back to that.

This week I put forward a different path. A new chapter for Britain. It starts with a secure economy, built for the long term. To me, that means highquality, reliable jobs across the nation.

It means a Government that focuses on growing our economy out of this crisis – in partnership with business.

And it means giving opportunity and a stake in Britain’s success to citizens. Because a more equal economy means a more prosperous economy.

That’s why I’m proposing a new British Recovery Bond. It would give ordinary people who have managed to save a bit of money during this crisis a fair return on their cash, while investing in Britain’s recovery.

This bond could raise billions to rebuild our communities, support UK businesses and create the jobs of the future.

And it’s why I urge Rishi Sunak not to choke off our recovery at the Budget next month with spending cuts or tax rises. He should scrap his planned Universal Credit cut and his attempt to force councils to hike council tax. Both will hammer families at a crucial point in the recovery.

As we come out of this pandemic, we can’t go back to business as usual under the same failed Tory system. I want to take Britain forward to a future of opportunity, built on solid foundations.

It starts with a secure economy and jobs KEIR STARMER ON HIS ‘NEW CHAPTER’ FOR UK