Labour can’t risk being boring at conference – as a critical friend I want Starmer to be bold

Recently, I was the UK representative on a visit to the Congressional Black Caucus legislative conference in Washington, DC.

One of the most important feelings I had coming out from that conference was that you cannot win alone. I feel it’s a powerful lesson that my party needs reminding of.

So as I prepare to go to the annual Labour Party conference this weekend, it got me thinking about how Keir Starmer needs more critical friends in his inner circle.

Someone who can tell him what more he can do to increase his chances of becoming the next PM. Because it is not guaranteed. 

Yes, most people are angry right now and upset with this Government. Whether it’s the way the Tories handled the pandemic, partying while others were grieving, or how they are handling the economy, people are fed up. 

This time last year, inflation was at a 41-year record high, food prices are now 13.6% higher than a year ago, while typical household energy bills increased by 54% last year. People are suffering. 

And it is our job to outline a vision that will ease that suffering. But it is my opinion that the current shadow cabinet could be doing more to prove this. 

Labour should be far ahead in the polls. Currently, we have a sizeable lead, but it should be more – and worryingly the gap could be narrowing.

As we head to Liverpool, I expect some of the strategy will be a calm conference – others might say boring – because the aim is to show the country that we are strong and stable (to recoin Theresa May’s famous phrase) and ready for government.  

This, many will say, means we cannot put a foot wrong and avoid bad headlines. That is why being boring – saying as little as possible and avoiding controversial topics – is in some ways a smart strategy.  

But in my view, we can be ‘boring’ but also bold. 

We can be ‘boring’ but also ensure we give people hope for the future. There are many problems that need to be tackled head on.  

I read recently there are now 171 billionaires in the UK and wealth shared by billionaires climbed to £683.856billion. 

Remember Tory peer Michelle Mone and her billionaire husband, who allegedly received tens of millions of pounds originating from government Covid contracts – where is she and the money? Why is she still a Member of the Lords? All this flaunting of unearned wealth while families struggle to get by. 

I believe our party needs to make more of this; Starmer can’t let the public forget that people linked to the Tories are accused of profiting massively at the public’s expense. 

I would like to see Keir Starmer take the offensive, rather than defensive, position

We have a government that claims there’s no money for substantial pay rises for essential workers, who kept this country running during the pandemic. When they say there’s no magic money tree, we should ask: ‘is that because the Tories already stripped it bare and then cut it down?  

It is not right that Rishi Sunak, for example, is taxed at the same rate (22%) as the average nurse. We should tax wealth – including shares, bonds and dividends – in the same way we tax income. 

At the Labour Party Conference, I would like to see Keir Starmer take the offensive, rather than defensive, position. 

If we are going to tackle inequality like this, then we need to be bold. Our job is to make clear to people we will serve them in Government. Starting with bringing down household energy bills by investing in our energy infrastructure.  

We must be bold and brave enough to challenge the Tories’ language on migration. The fact is we need people to come to this country to support our economy and our essential services.

So, we must lead the way in showing we are a caring and compassionate country. That means using responsible language and ensuring that asylum seekers and migrants leave the process with their dignity intact. 

I would also like to see bold action to ensure that people from all backgrounds can truly aspire to be homeowners, as well as action to ensure that renters are not exploited by the system. 

We need a fair system where we have controlled rents, while taking into consideration landlords’ mortgage increases, so we can have a country that serves everyone. 

The same goes for essential services – let’s run rail, water and electricity as not-for-profit, for the benefit of the people. This is not controversial – the majority of the public support nationalising key utilities. 

To do that, we must say loudly that it’s not right for shareholders to take home millions while services deteriorate. We can use that money for essential workers and infrastructure. 

And I want to see us take a strong stance on overseas aid, which is important from a moral perspective but security too. We should make the case for supporting the most vulnerable around the world – after all, if people feel safe in their own country, they will be less likely to seek refuge elsewhere.   

These are just some policy areas where I feel we need to do more. I feel Keir needs more critical friends who are not scared to have these debates and discussions. 

We can be calm and careful on one hand, while also pushing the agenda – showing the public there are clear dividing lines between us and the Tories. The country wants and needs to know there are those of us championing Labour values loud and proud. 

So, now is the time to be bold – to challenge the status quo, not perpetuate how things have been done for the last 13 years.

I want Labour to govern like my famous Jamaica Party at conference – where everyone is welcomed no matter what faction they’re from, where everyone has a great time, enjoys the music, dances in their own way and everyone leaves feeling good. 

We need to build a country that everyone is invested in, where everyone feels seen and heard – no matter their sex, gender, race, religion or class. 

Because as I said at the start, you cannot win alone.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

MORE : Rishi Sunak branded ‘inaction man’ by Starmer over RAAC crisis and prison escape

MORE : Desperate Sunak has set a trap – Labour must avoid falling in

MORE : The NHS ‘won’t survive five more years of Tory rule’, says Keir Starmer