Economic Theory

Keir Starmer is still trying to drag his party out of the Corbyn era, kicking and screaming


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Commenting on the speech, Dr Kristian Niemietz, Head of Political Economy at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“Keir Starmer’s speech was dominated by signals that he is different from his predecessor – both in what he said, and even more so in what he did not say.

“He distanced himself the Corbyn leadership, with positive references to the police, the army, to patriotism, to the Blair government – even enterprise.  

“Interestingly, he made no references to nationalisation, nothing about greedy elites, nothing on exploitation, nothing about ‘privatising the NHS’, no anti-finance rhetoric, and nothing on offshore tax havens.

“Far left buzzwords like ‘capitalism’, ‘neoliberalism’ and ‘trickle-down economics’ were notable by their absence.

“This may be a welcome change, but after one and a half years, it is clear the Labour leader is still trying to drag his party out of the Corbyn era, kicking and screaming. And judging from all the heckling – not very successfully so.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Contact: Emily Carver, Head of Media, 07715942731

IEA spokespeople are available for interview and further comment.



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