Labour’s campaign over the past few weeks has been centered on one key message: that the party, if elected on July 4th, will be a force for stability after years of political turmoil. Keir Starmer’s economic promises have been designed to be reassuring and cautious: no significant increases in public spending, no large tax hikes, and a commitment to adhere to the current fiscal rules on debt. However, it is an offer that is fraught with risk.
As the Guardian’s special correspondent Heather Stewart explains to Michael Safi, voters are looking not just for stability but for a government that will turn the economy around, invest in public services, and fix crumbling infrastructure. If Labour does take office on July 5th, has it already boxed itself in too much? And how can it reconcile a public desperate for change and an economic plan that promises much of the same?
It is clear that Labour needs to tread carefully if it wants to avoid repeating past mistakes and win over voters who are skeptical of its ability to deliver real change. The party must show that it is committed to addressing the root causes of economic inequality and investing in programs that will benefit all members of society. Only then can it hope to build a stable future for Britain.
