Keir Starmer urged Rishi Sunak to “bring it on” and stressed that people couldn’t afford to hold off on voting for a general election any longer.
The Labour leader stated that voters cannot afford to wait for another year of Tory suffering as mortgage rates increase and bills mount in his first interview of the election year.
However, Mr. Starmer claimed that because “everyone knows he’s been an abject failure,” the frightened prime minister is afraid to call for an election.
He said he was ready to take on Mr Sunak and rubbished reports that he wanted to duck scrutiny. “Bring it on I say. Bring on the campaign,” Starmer said.
“We’re ready. We’ve been working for four years for this. Working hard to change the Labour Party, to put ourselves in a position where we can change the country. 2024 is the year where we get the chance to change the country for the better. The power of the vote is hugely important and the chance for hope to prevail over decline.”
He rubbished Tory Rwanda deportation plans and said Labour would ditch legislation Mr Sunak is trying to force through Parliament to revive the failing scheme.
Asked what he would do if the legislation passed, he said: “I don’t believe in wasting taxpayers money on gimmicks that don’t work. We wouldn’t do it.”
Labour has promised that if it wins the general election, it will not raise taxes on average workers, including income tax.
While Mr. Starmer expressed his desire to see working people pay less in taxes, he would not comment on whether Labour’s manifesto will include reductions to national insurance or income tax.