Drop ‘party purity’ in favour of election win, says Starmer

SIR KEIR STARMER has urged party members not to chase “political purity” at the expense of winning elections, as he made a push for the centre ground.

Speaking at his first in-person Scottish Labour conference since becoming leader, Sir Keir was explicit in his desire to pull the party back from the Leftward shift seen under Jeremy Corbyn, as he stressed his party could return to power after the next election.

In a 35-minute speech from the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, Sir Keir also highlighted the importance of Scottish votes in the next poll, which is expected before the end of 2024.

“Our duty to win does mean keeping our discipline,” he said.

“Never losing sight of who it is that we need to convince – working people and especially those who voted for electoral opponents.

“We can win and we can make change or we can pursue apparent political purity inside this party – but please, make no mistake, we cannot do both. Running away from the mainstream is running away from voters.” Winning back the trust of the British people, the Labour leader said, would be the responsibility of party members north and south of the border, as he stressed: “Labour wins... when we have the ideas, the optimism and the trust of the British people.”

Sir Keir said the party is “laserfocused” on winning the next election.

“We have huge opportunities ahead of us, and the chance to change Britain again,” he said.

“Labour can win a general election. Scotland can choose not just to oppose the Tories, but to replace them with a Labour government.”

Claiming he had “no ambition” to remain leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir added: “Throughout our history, our leaders have been driven by our love for our country, but also full of passion for what more it can be.

“Each time, Labour has built a new Britain – Attlee, Wilson, Blair and Brown – each has sought office to change this country.”