Esther McVey issues warning over Starmer 'be very aware'

Esther McVey issues warning over Starmer 'be very aware'

Former Cabinet Minister Esther McVey discusses Keir Starmer's comments regarding tax cuts

Harvey Gough

By Harvey Gough


Published: 12/10/2023

- 13:34

The former cabinet minister said it is unclear what the Labour leader ‘actually does believe in’.

Former cabinet minister and GB News presenter Esther McVey MP has warned voters to be “very aware” of Labour’s Keir Starmer and what he “actually believes in.”

The comments from Esther came during a conversation with Beverley Turner, as she reacted to an interview with Keir Starmer carried out by GB News’ political editor, Christopher Hope.


In the interview, Starmer said: “All we’ve got from this government is high tax and low growth and that is the wrong recipe for the country.”

“I would like the overall burden, particularly on working people, to come down, but obviously we will operate always within our fiscal rules.”

Esther McVey on Starmer

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Esther mocked these comments, saying: “But he did only say ‘I would like to reduce tax’. He didn't say he was going to do it.”

“It's not going to happen. Just like his tax cuts are not going to happen because he's actually now committing to more spending.”

Commitments Starmer has made ahead of a looming general election include getting to net zero quicker and ending the Rwanda deterrent.

As well as this, a motion was held at the Labour Party conference to bring back the original plan for HS2, which was recently axed by the Tory Government.

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“First of all, he was against HS2 when it cost 38 billion. Now he seems to be for it that it could be costing 180 billion,” Esther said.

“That's labour for you when it's costing a lot, they’re for it. When it was at a value for money price, they weren't.

Beverley also brought up the gap in the polls between the Labour leader and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with Starmer so far maintaining his lead with voters, and asked when the Conservatives could expect a bump in popularity.

“I think when people see that Rishi's against those ULEZ schemes, against the tax on motorists and Sir Keir Starmer’s for it, I think you could see a balancing up.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (left) and deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner with Labour candidate Alistair Strathern (centre) during a visit to Shefford in the constituency of Mid BedfordshireLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer (left) and deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner with Labour candidate Alistair Strathern (centre) during a visit to Shefford in the constituency of Mid BedfordshirePA

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“Remember, he did have a big bounce when he said ‘We're not going to follow this ridiculous net zero timetable. He did get a 5% bounce from that. Now remember, Kier is going against that and is going to do it quicker!”

On why Starmer is so popular despite his divisive politics, Esther said: “Sir Keir Starmer is a blank canvas and people are painting on it what they want to see.”

“So young people might see houses. At the moment he's staying very quiet and allowing people to paint on him what they want to remember.”

“This is the man who one moment was supporting Corbyn, the next moment he's supporting Blair. One moment he's going to get rid of tax fees, the next minute he's keeping it. One moment he's re-nationalising, the next moment he's not.“

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