Labour leader says former PM ‘set loose our natural entrepreneurialism’ in appeal to Tory voters to back him

Keir Starmer has praised Margaret Thatcher for effecting “meaningful change” in Britain in an article directly appealing to Conservative voters to switch to Labour.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the Labour leader said Thatcher had “set loose our natural entrepreneurialism” during her time as prime minister.

“Across Britain, there are people who feel disillusioned, frustrated, angry, worried. Many of them have always voted Conservative but feel that their party has left them,” he said. “I understand that. I saw that with my own party and acted to fix it. But I also understand that many will still be uncertain about Labour. I ask them to take a look at us again.”

In the article, Starmer pointed to Labour prime ministers of the past – Tony Blair and Clement Attleee – as well as Thatcher, as examples of how politicians can effect meaningful change.

      • @[email protected]
        2•2 years ago

        Ah, come on. We both know there’s a large center of UK politics who think “well, say what you want about MT, at least she X”, where X can be something about “had a plan”, “won a war”, “showed those old party bosses”, “got rid of loss-making state businesses” etc.

        I’m certainly not implying MT was at the center, merely that AT the center, some people have admiration for the Big Persons on both sides of the aisle.

    • @[email protected]
      1•2 years ago

      Labour have already attracted the center of politics, this is an attempt to appeal to the right and will likely lose more votes than gain.

      • Echo Dot
        0•2 years ago

        I really don’t think so.

        At this point the Tories have done more to ensure labour victory than anyone else. I can’t see how this could do anything other than bolster their votes.

        Ok let’s say that you’re pulled by this who are you going to vote for instead the lib Dems? they have about as much chance of achieving power as whatever ukip are currently calling themselves.

        • Chaotic EntropyEnglish
          1•2 years ago

          Ok let’s say that you’re pulled by this who are you going to vote for instead the lib Dems? they have about as much chance of achieving power as whatever ukip are currently calling themselves.

          “What choice do you have?”

          A compelling appeal to the voting public. How could that dampen turnout.