Sir Keir Starmer accused of copying Tory policies after refusing to say Labour would spend more on public services

The Labour leader also suggest he doesn’t mind being branded a fiscal conservative.

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of copying Tory policies after refusing to say that Labour would invest more on public services.

The Labour leader also suggested he did not mind being called a fiscal conservative, insisting mistakes with the economy were paid for by “working people”.

Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Keir confirmed Labour would not scrap the two-child benefit cap, despite his shadow secretary of state for work and pensions previously suggesting Labour would ditch the policy.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer suggested he was relaxed about being called a fiscal conservative.

The confirmation from Sir Keir sparked a critical response from First Minister Humza Yousaf, who posted on Twitter: “Poverty experts say scrapping the two-child limit would lift up to 15,000 children in Scotland out of poverty. Why on earth is Starmer committed to keeping this cruel Tory policy?

Sir Keir faced several questions on whether he would spend more on public services if in power, replying: “A Labour government always will invest in our public services.”

The Labour leader then criticised a lack of “long-term thinking” and reform over the past 13 years of Conservative-led governments, adding: “Take the NHS – the strains on the NHS are very different to the strains 75 years ago, so we have to reform and change the NHS so it’s fit for the future.

“If all we do is simply patch up and keep going, then we won’t fix the fundamentals and that’s why reform is so important.”

Pressed on whether this meant he would spend more money, Sir Keir answered: “A Labour government will always want to invest in its public services. The way to invest in our public services is to grow our economy.”

The Labour leader stressed the importance of “responsible economics” and growing the economy, prompting a question of whether he minded people branding him a fiscal conservative.

He said: “I don’t mind what label people on me. I do want to make my argument. My argument is this. What was absolutely plain from last year’s mini-budget is if you lose control of the economy, it’s working people who pay.”

Sir Keir also suggested the Bank of England’s 2 per cent inflation target could change under a Labour government. He said: “That’s something I think for us to address closer to the election.

“We will wait until all the fiscal events before the election and then we will be absolutely transparent about what we will do.”

His comments prompted criticism from the SNP, who questioned the Labour leader’s plan for economic growth, pointing towards Brexit.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: "The SNP is the only party offering real hope, real change – and a credible plan for sustained economic growth with independence.

"You don't get economic growth by eroding it with Brexit, you don't improve public services by starving them of cash, and you can't compete on the green energy gold rush if you fail to invest. By copying these failed Tory policies, Keir Starmer will stunt the UK economy, harm public services and leave people poorer.

"The UK is on the path to long-term decline, and millions are struggling with the cost of living. But all the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party have to offer is more pain and the same damaging policies that got the UK into this mess.

"The SNP is the only party offering a genuine alternative and real help with the cost of living.”

Labour’s approach was also criticised by Mick Lynch, the secretary-general of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), who called on Sir Keir to show he was on the “side of the people”.

He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “He should be saying something about workers’ rights, he should say stuff about funding the NHS, national care service, looking after people who are struggling in the housing market, council houses for the masses, controlling rents, addressing all sorts of stuff about what’s going to happen in the imbalance in our society.

“He’s not saying any of that. He won’t dare mention the word socialism. I want to hear that word mentioned frequently and I want to see a redistribution of wealth in our society, because there are a lot of very wealthy people and there are too many very poor people.

“And now people in the middle are being squeezed as well, with rents and mortgages skyrocketing. He doesn’t seem to be on the side of the people of this country. I think it could be on the side of the people in this country, but he’s got to show it to us before the election.”

Mr Lynch said people could not “spot the difference” between Labour and the Government.

He said: “It’s a shame that Labour and others can’t show that they’re distinct from the kind of consensus that’s got us into this trouble where working people are struggling, the cost-of-living crisis seems to be ignored by the political class to a certain extent.

“I don’t think Labour’s doing enough. We will be critical of Labour when they don’t do the right stuff and we will be supportive on the occasions that they do.

“But at the minute I think Keir Starmer and his team have got to show some clear waters between themselves and The Daily Mail and the Telegraph, and themselves and the Conservatives.

“And at the minute, many people can’t spot the difference and that’s a shame for somebody who’s probably as talented as Keir Starmer is. He’s got to show that he’s on the side of working people and progressive politics, and I don’t think we’re seeing that.”