At his conference speech in Liverpool Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer promised a green power revolution for the UK and promised to introduce the ‘Hillsborough Law’. Tony McDonough reports
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to take the UK energy network under public control if his party returns to Government after the next General Election.
In his speech to the Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr Starmer said he would create Great British Energy. This would be a publicly-owned company that would “cut bills, create jobs and deliver energy independence”.
And he also vow to enact the proposed ‘Hillsborough Law’. This would introduce a statutory duty of candour on public servants during all forms of public inquiry and criminal investigation.
He told a packed conference at ACC Liverpool: “This is our first conference in Liverpool since calls for justice for the 96 became justice for the 97. For too long this city has been let down.
“So when Labour wins the next election one of my first acts as Prime Minister will be to put the Hillsborough Law onto the statute book.”
Mr Starmer set a goal of 100% clean energy by 2030. He promised a massive expansion of both onshore and offshore wind and solar to fight climate change. He added: “”This is about fair growth, powered by clean, British energy, everywhere in the country.
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“I come at this not just as leader of the Labour party, but also as a father. As a father, I’m spurred on by the voices of our children… a cry of indignation demanding our generation act before it’s too late.”
The Labour leader said he would be “not just pro-business” but to partner with business. A Labour government would scrap business rates, level the playing field for start-ups on the High Street and give employers new flexibility to invest in world-class training, he told the gall.
He would also invite businesses to “drive forward our modern industrial strategy”. It would be a “true partnership”, he added, between Government, businesses and trade unions.