Keir Starmer’s major ‘Plan for Change’ speech ‘not a relaunch’, insists close ally

A MAJOR speech by Sir Keir Starmer this week is “not a relaunch”, a close ally has insisted.

The PM is unveiling his “Plan For Change” on Thursday in what is widely viewed as an attempt to get his government back on track.

Since July, Labour has been buffeted by rows over freebies, No10 infighting, the Budget, and last week saw Transport Secretary Louise Haigh resign.

Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden yesterday admitted having to deal with “things that would cause a lot of heat”.

But he said the focus was fleshing out the five “missions” of economic growth, the NHS, cutting crime, green energy and creating opportunity.

He said: “What we’re doing this week is setting out a plan for change over the next few years to tell the public what the key priorities are in these areas.”

Writing in the Sun On Sunday, the PM said: "This Government was elected to turn the page on chaos, austerity and decline, choosing the path of stability, investment and reform instead.

"Already we’ve seen the benefits with a Budget that has freed up tens of ­billions of investment in our NHS, ­prevented devastating austerity in our public services and protected the payslips of working people.

"And we’ve gone further. We’ve raised the National Living Wage, handing an extra £1,400 each to millions of hard-working people.

"We’ve attracted £63billion of investment into Britain.

"We’ve launched our Border Security Command to smash the people-smuggling gangs.

"We’re reforming the skills system so businesses can recruit the highly trained workers they need.

"We’re knuckling down, but there’s more to do."