Return to centre: Starmer’s pitch to the country

In his speech to the Labour Party conference this afternoon in Liverpool, Sir Keir Starmer pitched his alternative offer to Britain, pledging to bring about a decade of renewal under a future Labour government. ?

Whilst thin on policy detail, Starmer’s critique of a decade of Tory rule was devastating, as he issued a direct appeal to moderate Conservative voters who he suggested had been let down by years of Tory infighting and national decline.?

Pitching himself as the heir to New Labour, this was unquestionably the best-received speech by a Labour leader to the party faithful in many years, coupled with the buzz amongst the fringe the last few days. ?

In his three and a half years as Labour leader, Starmer has succeeded in taking back control of his party and providing an alternative to Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives. Today marked Starmer’s most energetic speech to date, and with his party so far ahead in the polls, along with last week’s by-election success in Scotland, it is easy to see why the opposition leader and his shadow Cabinet have been so buoyant all week. ?

Throughout his time on stage, the Labour leader praised Tony Blair, vowed to reform the NHS and lead a standing ovation in support of Israel, demonstrating his growing confidence as a statesman in tackling national issues. ?

Questions will remain, however, about the finer details of the Starmer offer. His promise to build a generation of new towns was an eye catching attempt to finally solve the country’s housing crisis, but Starmer resisted calls to use his speech to unleash a torrent of policy pledges. ?

Today was more about him making his pitch to the country on why he wants to be prime minister and why Labour deserve the voters’ trust after 13 years in the wilderness.?

Could this be the moment Labour sealed the deal? ?