Welcome to power, Keir Starmer. Now fix Britain’s economic mess
CNN
British voters have handed the Labour Party its first election victory in almost two decades, hoping that a new center-left government will revive Britain’s ailing economy and fix collapsing public services.
British voters have handed the Labour Party its first election victory in almost two decades, hoping that a new center-left government will revive Britain’s ailing economy and fix collapsing public services. The landmark moment draws the curtain on 14 years of tumultuous rule by the Conservative Party — defined by austerity, Brexit and a disastrous tax-cutting gamble — during which time incomes stagnated, living standards deteriorated and business investment dried up. The win is a triumph for Keir Starmer, a former chief prosecutor who only entered parliament in 2015 and will become prime minister later Friday. “Change begins now,” he said in a victory speech to party workers. “It feels good, I have to be honest.” But Labour’s jubilation may soon give way to trepidation given the economic challenges ahead. From bankrupt local governments, crumbling infrastructure and a chronic housing shortage, to rising homelessness and a National Health Service in a state of crisis, the list of problems is long.