Starmer reiterates housing intentions in new year speech

Labour leader Keir Starmer has reiterated his intention to reform the planning system and “get Britain building again” during his first speech of the new year.

In his address in Bristol this morning (January 4), regarded as a pitch to voters in what is widely expected to be an election year, Starmer restated that he would overhaul the planning system so that it was “no longer blocking the homes we need”.

Appealing to voters, the Labour leader said that if under the current government, “you can’t get an affordable home but with Labour you can, that’s a difference worth fighting for”.

Labour would “get Britain building again,” Starmer said, with Labour being the “only” party willing to “bulldoze” through the necessary red tape.

Criticising the Conservative party’s “cronyism” and former prime minister Liz Truss’ mini-Budget, he said: “If your mortgage is going up this year, and you see people swanning around the House of Lords, what do you think?”

Starmer used his speech to criticise Westminster, acknowledging voter apathy and disillusion with the current government. He positioned Labour as the party to transform the country.

The Labour leader pointed to the “power of the vote” as …