Labour's economic plan will take years to deliver, Keir Starmer says

Labour Leader Keir Starmer has claimed that his party's economic plan will take years to deliver on its promises, amid criticism over the government's handling of tax rises in last week's budget.

The Labour leader defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves' decision to increase taxes, saying she was right to act due to revised forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Starmer insisted that his party would not compromise on its economic plan, which includes deregulation, welfare reform, and closer ties with Europe.

In an article published in The Guardian, Starmer stated that Labour's approach is different from the Conservatives' "politics of decline," which he believes involves returning to austerity measures. He vowed to take on critics who offer only grievances without proposing concrete solutions.

Starmer has outlined a multi-year economic plan aimed at regenerating Britain and addressing issues such as youth unemployment, mental health, and disability benefits. The plan includes further deregulation and an overhaul of the welfare system, with the aim of supporting individuals who struggle with mental health issues or have disabilities.

However, the Conservative party is seeking to hold Chancellor Reeves accountable for her tax decisions, including a request for her to appear in Parliament to explain her actions. This comes as Labour aides worry that the ongoing row over tax rises may detract from measures announced by the chancellor aimed at alleviating the cost of living.

Post-budget polls have shown that voters' opinions on Chancellor Reeves' competence remain largely unchanged, with 60% of respondents now rating her negatively compared to 61% before the budget.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."

think labour's plan is ambitious but might not be realistic... we've seen a lot of 'multi-year plans' in the past and they don't always pan out still, i guess it's good that they're trying to tackle some tough issues like mental health & disability benefits but let's wait & see how it all unfolds

omg i'm lowkey impressed with Keir Starmer tho he's like the ultimate politician right now! his economic plan might be slow-burning but it's clear he's thinking long-term and not just trying to please everyone in the short term like Boris did . plus, deregulation and welfare reform are def topics that need some serious work - i'm all for giving people more freedom and support . it's great to see him calling out the Tories for their austerity measures too - they're just so clueless when it comes to dealing with social issues . what do u think about Starmer's tax plan tho? is it enough?

Tax rises are just a symptom of a bigger problem - lack of funding for mental health & disability benefits Labour's plan is long-term, but will it make UK a better place? Not sure if tax hikes are the only answer

I'm low-key surprised that Labour is going to take years to deliver on their economic promises... like they're trying to keep us all in suspense . I mean, can't we just get a clear plan already? And what's with all this deregulation business? Don't get me wrong, I think it's cool that Starmer wants to shake things up, but how is it gonna affect the most vulnerable folks who really need help? Mental health and disability benefits should be our top priority, not some fancy plan to make businesses happy. And on the Conservative side, come on guys, can't you just work together instead of trying to tear each other apart? It's all just so... dramatic

just another budget, another set of tax rises think about it, we're all just living paycheck to paycheck anyway, what's a few extra quid or so? at least they're talking about fixing things like youth unemployment and mental health... gotta ask, is the system really that broken that we need to deregulate and overhaul welfare?

"Actions speak louder than words" , and it seems like both parties are trying to make their case through actions instead of compromise . Labour's plan might take years to deliver, but that doesn't mean they're not making progress. The key is to keep the conversation going and finding common ground . Meanwhile, the Conservatives need to be careful not to just criticize without offering solutions . The tax rises were a tough call, but maybe it's time for both parties to sit down and talk about how to work together towards a better future .

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The tax debate is a classic example of this quote in action – both parties are trying to avoid taking responsibility for their decisions, but we'll see how it all unfolds. It's interesting to see how the public perception of Chancellor Reeves remains largely unchanged despite the controversy surrounding her tax rises. One thing's for sure, though – no one wants to take on a tough decision when it comes to economic planning. As they say, "the truth will out" eventually...

I don't get why Starmer is still being so calm about this tax rise mess . If he's got a better plan like he says he does, shouldn't he be shouting it from the rooftops and not just trying to deflect criticism? I mean, 60% of people don't like Reeves after that budget? That's some serious damage control needed ASAP!

And what's with Labour's 'deregulation' plan? Are they seriously going to make things worse for vulnerable people by cutting welfare benefits and throwing more money at big businesses? It just seems like another load of empty promises from a party that's still trying to figure out its own economic policies.

I'm still trying to get my head around this tax rise thing . I mean, I get it, the economy's a mess and someone's gotta make some changes, but years to deliver on promises? That sounds like a long time to me . I've been following Starmer's speeches online and he seems like a nice guy who wants to help people out. But this deregulation business...I'm not sure that's gonna be good for the average Joe . And what about all these austerity measures? Can't they just find a better way to balance the books ? I know some people are saying Labour's plan is too idealistic, but come on, can't we aim high every now and then?

I think Keir is being super realistic about the time it takes to fix things. We know our economy isn't in great shape and it's going to take some time to turn it around. I mean, I've got kids at school who are struggling to find a job after uni - we need to do better than just waving our hands and hoping for the best.

I also think he's right to push back on the Conservative party trying to pin all their failures on Chancellor Reeves. It's not fair to her or to her team, and it doesn't help when they're already under pressure.

What I do worry about is that the row over tax rises might overshadow some of the good stuff that Chancellor Reeves announced. We need to be careful not to get too bogged down in politics and forget what's really important: supporting our most vulnerable citizens.

It's also got me thinking - how can we make sure that when we're talking about economic plans, we're having a constructive conversation? Not just spewing out criticisms without any ideas of our own. We need to work together if we want to get things done.

I'm like, totally not surprised that there's still a lot of drama going on around tax rises . But, you know what? I think Keir Starmer is actually doing Labour a solid by sticking to their guns . It's about time someone showed the Conservatives that there are better ways to handle economic issues than just going back to austerity measures .

And let's be real, 60% of people still rating Chancellor Reeves negatively? That's not necessarily a bad thing! Maybe it means she's pushing boundaries and making tough decisions that need to be seen through . I'm all about giving people credit for trying to tackle big issues like youth unemployment and mental health .

It's also interesting to see how Labour's plan is being perceived as different from the Conservatives' "politics of decline" . Like, maybe it's time for a change?

I think it's a bit weird that Keir Starmer is saying their economic plan will take years to deliver on its promises . I mean, if they're going to make such big changes, can't we see some progress in a few years? It feels like just more of the same old politics of blame and promises . And what's up with Labour not offering any concrete solutions to critics who are questioning their plans? I'm all for change, but let's have a bit of substance behind it, you know?

I gotta say, this whole tax rise thing is like, super frustrating for a lot of people ... but at the same time, I get where Keir Starmer's coming from. His party's got some solid ideas about tackling youth unemployment and mental health issues, and it's cool that they're not just talking about it ... now let's see if their plan actually comes to fruition . What I find kinda interesting is how the Conservative party's going after Chancellor Reeves – like, they want her to take responsibility for her decisions ... but on the other hand, Labour's got its own critics who aren't exactly offering concrete solutions . Anyways, it's gonna be a long year ahead, and I'm hoping we'll see some positive changes

omg I'm low-key stressing about this whole tax thing... my sister is really struggling to make ends meet and she's always talking about how hard it is to afford basics let alone pay bills on time... I mean I get it, economies are complex but can't we just find a way to help ppl without making them poorer? my mate's cousin is actually a chancellor's aide and they're literally living the worst stress lives right now trying to figure out how to explain this mess in parliament

"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem." - Isaac Asimov