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.

  • Kainsley@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 year 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.

    • yeah@feddit.ukEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      And if it does gain votes and the left coalition party is basically center and the Conservatives are going further right and there’s no chance of PR. Just yuck.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
      2·
      1 year 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 Entropy@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        1 year 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.

        • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
          1·
          1 year ago

          It’s called tactical voting in everyone knows about it it’s not some secret conspiracy

          • Chaotic Entropy@feddit.ukEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            Tactical voting is what people do when they think a party is a lesser evil than another party. Having labour stand up and basically say “vote for Labour, we’re not Tories… but don’t worry Tories we will be continuing your policies” does not inspire a strong tactical voting block. As absurd and doomed as our 2 party voting system already is.