Starmer defends policy decisions as he hits back at Blair

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Starmer defends policy decisions as he hits back at Blair10 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleBecky MortonPolitical reporterPA MediaSir Keir Starmer has insisted he made the right policy choices given the backdrop he inherited, after former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair accused his government of having "no coherent plan". In a highly critical essay, Sir Tony said measures including increasing employers National Insurance, new workers' rights laws and phasing out of the British oil and gas industry had held back business. But Sir Keir said his government had been "vindicated", pointing to recent economic growth figures and falling NHS waiting lists.

Sir Tony's intervention comes as the PM faces a potential leadership challenge following a disastrous set of election results and ministerial resignations. Sir Tony, who came to power in 1997 and won two further general elections, argued a change of leader was "irrelevant if it doesn't start with a policy debate". In his essay of more than 5,600 words - his first in-depth critique of Sir Keir's government - Sir Tony argued the "principal problem" was not "Keir's personality" or "a failure to communicate 'our achievements'".

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He wrote: "It is because we don't have a worked-out coherent plan for the country in a fast-changing world and are in the wrong political position from which we can devise one and win a second term. "In response, Sir Keir told broadcasters he agreed with his predecessor "that we should be having a discussion about policy and ideas". However, he added: "I don't agree that the policy choices of this government weren't the right policy choices given what we inherited, a very different situation in 2024 to 1997.

"And dealing with what we had to turn around, the policy choices, we're vindicated by them because those changes have happened. "The PM highlighted recent figures showing the UK economy grew by more than expected at the start of the year, as well as investment in public services, as examples of his government's achievements. Labour has 'no coherent plan' for country, says BlairBurnham and Streeting accuse Blair of ignoring inequality as they hit back at ex-PMWill Tony Blair's intervention change the Labour debate?

Although Sir Keir won a landslide general election victory in 2024, Labour's polling has plummeted since then. The government has blamed the tough financial inheritance it took over from the Conservatives for the many of the decisions it has made, as well as the difficult economic backdrop, with wars in Ukraine and later Iran pushing up the cost of living. However, it has also made a number of damaging policy U-turns on cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits.

Meanwhile, business groups have argued that some policies, including tax rises and new workers' rights laws, have discouraged hiring and hit economic growth.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.