After a day of media speculation, the Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak finally announced that he was calling a General Election on the 4th July. The Labour Party is ready for this election and the Hexham CLP has been working for a Labour victory for over a year.
Sunak’s Tory government is out of time and out of ideas. Fittingly Sunak made his announcement, whilst reminiscing about his role in the pandemic (as part of the disgraced Boris Johnson’s government and as architect of the terrible ‘eat out to help out scheme’, which at a cost of £840million helped to increase Covid infections by 20%), the rain fell soaking his suit. In the background from beyond Downing Street came the music of D:REAMS Things can only get better. This was, of course, the anthem to Labour’s Landslide 1997 election victory! Things can only get better!
Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Labour Party has pledged to stop the chaos and that we will start to rebuild Britain. His statement in full:
Tonight the prime minister has finally announced the next general election.
A moment the country needs – and has been waiting for. And where, by the force of our democracy, power returns to you.
A chance to change for the better your future, your community, your country.
Now it will feel like a long campaign – I’m sure of that. But no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about.
Over the course of the last four years, we’ve changed the Labour Party. Returned it once more to the service of working people.
All we ask now – humbly – is to do exactly the same for our country, and return Britain to the service of working people.
To that purpose, we offer three reasons why you should change Britain with Labour.
One – because we will stop the chaos.
Look around our country. The sewage in our rivers, people waiting on trolleys in A and E, crime virtually unpunished, mortgages and food prices through the roof.
It’s all – every bit of it – a direct result of the Tory chaos in Westminster.
Time and again, they pursue their own interests, rather than tackling the issues that affect your family.
And if they get another five years, they will feel entitled to carry on exactly as they are. Nothing will change.
A vote for Labour is a vote for stability – economic and political. A politics that treads more lightly on all our lives, a vote to stop the chaos.
Two – because it’s time for change.
Our offer is to reset both our economy and our politics, so that they once again serve the interests of working people.
We totally reject the Tory view that economic strength is somehow gifted from those at the top.
Over the past 14 years – through all the crises we’ve had to face – sticking with this idea has left our country exposed, insecure and unable to unlock the potential of every community.
But a vote for Labour is a vote to turn the page on all that – a vote for change.
And finally, three – because we have a long-term plan to rebuild Britain, a plan that is ready to go, fully costed and fully funded.
We can deliver economic stability, cut the NHS waiting times, secure our borders with a new Border Security Command.
Harness Great British Energy to cut your bills for good, tackle anti-social behaviour. And get the teachers we need in your children’s classroom.
But most of importantly of all, we do all this with a new spirit of service. Country first, party second.
A rejection of the gesture politics you will see in this campaign, I have no doubt from the Tories and the SNP.
I’m well aware of the cynicism people hold towards politicians at the moment.
But I came into politics late, having served our country as leader of the Crown Prosecution Service.
And I helped the Police Service in Northern Ireland to gain the consent of all communities.
Service of our country is the reason and the only reason why I am standing here now, asking for your vote.
And I believe with patience, determination and that commitment to service, there is so much pride and potential we can unlock across our country.
So here it is, the future of the country in your hands.
On 4 July you have the choice. And together, we can stop the chaos.
We can turn the page. We can start to rebuild Britain, and change our country. Thank you.
In the Hexham Constituency our candidate Joe Morris has been out on the streets this evening campaigning and talking to voters, as he has been for many months. There is hard work ahead but we will strive to make history in the Hexham Constituency by turning it red. Remember that if you want the Tories out, if you want to say bye, bye to Guy Opperman, then you need to vote for Joe Morris and Labour on the 4th July.
Join the Labour Party
Right across Hexham Constituency Labour Party members are working to Build a Better Britain and get Guy Opperman out after 13 disastrous years of Conservative government.
If you’d like to get involved please consider joining the party or making a donation.
