Labour leader launches party's local election campaign
Sir Keir Starmer is in Swindon today
Last updated 30th Mar 2023
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has launched his party's local election campaign today in Swindon.
He was joined by some of his top team ahead of the UK going to the polls in May.
In his speech, the Labour Leader said his party would freeze council tax for the next year to help more working people.
The Labour leader's speech also touched on a 'proper' windfall duty on big oil and gas companies.
Ahead of the launch, Tory chairman Greg Hands hit out, saying it's "not worth the paper it's written on".
The Conservatives launched their party campaign last week in the Midlands, and the Lib Dems unveiled theirs yesterday in Hertfordshire.
Sir Keir said: "Across the country, everywhere I go, here in Swindon, communities have ambition. They want change. They just don't have a Government that matches their ambition. And they're not going to get it from this Prime Minister, Mr One Percent.
"One percent of asylum claims from those arriving on small boats actually processed. One percent of the fraud that was lost during Covid actually recovered. Naught percent of the windfall tax that could have helped working people actually collected.
"And his new tax policy? Same as his old tax policy, a tax cut for the richest 1% whilst working people pay the price."
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: "Labour town halls charge higher council tax, and a Labour-run Whitehall would do the same.
"When Labour were last in government they doubled council tax and their stealth tax on your home would hike up taxes - just as they are doing in Labour-run Wales.
"Only the Conservatives are taking action now to provide immediate relief to families."