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THE mounting cost-of-living crisis cannot be addressed by more Britishness, the bakers’ union pointed out today after Sir Keir Starmer said that Labour is a “patriotic” party.
In a keynote speech in Birmingham, the Labour leader promised a “contract with the British people” ahead of a possible general election in 2023.
His “straight leadership” would be based on the values of “security, prosperity and respect” if he were elected prime minister, Sir Keir claimed.
Standing in front of two British flags, the former shadow Brexit secretary also said that Labour is not a “nationalist party,” but a “national party,” and while Britain remains a “great place to live,” it is not unpatriotic to point out the country’s flaws.
“On the contrary, the reason we in this party want to correct those flaws is precisely because we are patriotic,” he added.
Sir Keir referred to rising inflation, soaring energy bills and impending tax rises in April and said that his “contract” would ensure people have a “basic right to feel safe in their own communities.”
But BFAWU president Ian Hodson tweeted: “Not sure the British cost-of-living crisis can be addressed by more Britishness.
“You can’t eat a flag or be housed in a royal palace. We need [policies] that bring about system change not a change of management.”
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell drew attention to the fact that Sir Keir appeared to suggest that he still backs the 10 policy pledges he made to party members before becoming leader in April 2020.
Labour’s left has accused the Holborn and St Pancras MP of dropping the commitments, which include moves to nationalise key industries, as part of his lurch to the right after Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation.
When referring to the promises in a question-and-answer session with journalists after the speech, Sir Keir said: “They are important pledges and I stand by those pledges.”
Mr McDonnell tweeted: “Keir said he stands by those [2020] pledges. As he’s now keen on contracts, that sounds like a contract with the members to me.”
Retail union Usdaw said the Labour leader was right to highlight soaring living costs, while transport union TSSA felt the party had the “right focus” for the country’s priorities.
