Sir Keir Starmer has said he has no intention of “making budgets for the next five years”; on Air Credits: Aaron Chown/PA b27b-4223678de837.html?direct=true&id=bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837&template=articleRendererHTML' class='tmg-particle Sticky-nav wrp-bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de83 7' title=General Election Data -business-type='editorial' loading='eager' scroll='no' Frameborder='0'allow='web-share' style='width: 100%; min-width: 100%; border: none; position: relative; display: block; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;'>
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested he would have served in Jeremy Corbyn's cabinet if Labor had won the 2019 general election.
In a wide-ranging phone call on LBC radio, the Labor Party leader was repeatedly asked whether he would serve in an administration led by his far-left predecessor.
He initially described the questions as “hypothetical,” saying “it hasn’t occurred to me.” in my head because I didn't think we would win” and “I don't think anyone thought we would win.”
When Sir Keir was later asked whether he would have followed Mr Corbyn into government, he replied: “That's hypothetical… if we crossed the line there would be important things that I thought needed to be done from the front line, continue and get the job done on Brexit, make it absolutely clear that the Labor Party has never deviated from our position on NATO, and do the necessary work on antisemitism.”
“But when we went to the 2019 election, I honestly didn’t think, and I wasn’t alone in thinking, that Labor would win that election.”
The exchange about Mr Corbyn was just one of the topics covered during the LBC telephone interview conducted by Nick Ferrari.
VAT on private schools
The Labor leader again defended his plan to introduce VAT on private school fees, saying the policy would help raise money to fund the recruitment of more core subject teachers in the public education sector.
Sir Keir told LBC. that “money is tight, we don't have a magic wand” and the money to fund Labour's plans had to come from somewhere.
He said the decision to introduce VAT on fees was a “tough choice”. .
“I have nothing against private schools and I understand that many parents save money and work hard to send their children to private schools because they have a genuine desire to do so,” he said.
“I have nothing against private schools and I understand that many parents save money and work hard to send their children to private schools because they really want to,” he said.
“But I also understand that all parents have aspirations for their children, including parents who send their children to public school, and I want to make sure that every child, no matter where they come from, no matter what their background, has the opportunity to receive go through life and feel that success belongs to them.”
Special educational needs
Sir Keir was forced to deny that Labour does not care about children with special educational needs, many of whom are forced to go to private schools and who could be affected by the VAT rise.
Michelle Catterson, headteacher at Moon Hall School in Reigate, Surrey, which caters for children with dyslexia, said many of her pupils who do not have education, health and care (EHC) plans would be forced to work in the state sector.
“I really doubt the Labour Party cares about these children,” she said. “I think it's blind ignorance to go ahead with their plan.”
Sir Keir said the exemption was available for anyone with an EHC plan. “Where there is no plan, the exemption does not apply,” he said.
“Michelle, we care about this. I want every child, whether they go to private or public school, to have the same opportunities. This is really important to me.”
Premier League Tax
Sir Keir categorically rejected the idea that Labor could introduce a 10 per cent rate. a cent levy on Premier League transfer fees.
Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow culture and sport minister, sparked reports that Labor could introduce a transfer fee on Monday when she said she would “look at everything” suggested in a recent fan-led review of football governance.
The Labor Party leader, a prominent Arsenal fan, told LBC: “No. We are not. Let me just kill this one. We don't pay attention to it.”
Wife
The leader of the Labor Party was forced to explain the absence of his wife Victoria from the Labor Party election campaign.
He said she was largely absent from the Labor Party's election campaign because they were trying to ensure a stable environment. for their son while he takes his GCSEs.
Sir Keir said: “Vic does a lot with me, but there are two things about this campaign: one is she works for the NHS in her hospital, the other is – I don't attach much importance to it, our boy does his own. So we decided that while I was on the road, we wanted to create an environment in which he could study calmly under normal circumstances. He finished his exams on Friday.”
Gender
Sir Keir said Labor would not allow trans women, biological men, to be treated on women's wards, saying they should use side wards more often.
“You can always keep safe spaces for women and girls, be either sport or supporting people who have experienced violence, physical or sexual. It is very important that we preserve this.”
He said he wanted to “strengthen and protect” the NHS policy of single-sex wards.
This means that even a person with a gender recognition certificate will not be able to enter the premises for women.
The only reason it failed was because “the government has lost control of our hospitals.”
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