Starmer Targets Difficult-to-Reach 2.5% Growth Rate for Britain
- Labour leader Keir Starmer makes comments in ITV interview
- Starmer on course to be next prime minister after July 4 vote
Keir Starmer is banking on a quick return to growth to avoid having to make painful tax and spending choices if his party wins the election.
Photographer: Hollie Adams/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Keir Starmer, who polls show is on course to be Britain’s next prime minister, said his Labour Party would seek annual growth of at least 2.5% if it won power — a rate that economists argue is unrealistic.
“Under the last Labour government, we grew by about 2.5%,” Starmer said in an interview with ITV which was recorded on June 21 and due to air on Thursday. Asked if he was looking to achieve the same, he replied: “Certainly, yes.”