Labour Unity Strains Under Starmer’s Focus on Tax and Business
- Opposition leader wants to blunt Conservative campaign attacks
- But strategy risks dividing his party and putting off voters
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UK opposition leader Keir Starmer and his shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves breezed through their encounter with executives at the Labour Party’s business conference this week. Their talks with colleagues are rougher, exposing growing disagreement over how to win a national election.
For months, Starmer’s senior team have been at odds over a key part of their vision for government: a commitment Reeves made in 2021 to spend £28 billion a year turning Britain green, including 100% renewable energy by 2030. The cost has become caught in the cross-hairs of a worsening economy, Conservative Party attacks over tax and spend, and the determination of Starmer and Reeves to convince voters Labour will not be reckless with the public finances.