Starmer savagely mocked for calling Tory plans ‘Corbyn-style’ despite supporting ex-leader

Keir Starmer has been slammed for comparing the “unfunded” Tory manifesto to Jeremy Corbyn’s which he backed before taking over as leader.

The Labour leader was mocked for “attacking his own side” with his remarks as he supported Mr Corbyn’s manifestos in 2017 and 2019 when serving as a shadow minister.

Speaking to journalists about the Conservative manifesto outside a school in Teesside, Sir Keir said: “We are being absolutely clear that all our plans are fully costed. We will not be increasing income tax, National Insurance, no tax increases for working people.

“None of our plans require tax rises. This is coming from a party that’s put tax at the highest level for 70 years, and they’re building the sort of Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto where anything you want can go in it, none of it is costed.”

He added: “That’s why I say it’s a Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto, which is load everything into the wheelbarrow, don’t provide the funding and hope that nobody notices the money isn’t there.”

It is understood that Sir Keir was referring to Mr Corbyn’s manifesto in 2019, which Rachel Reeves last week attacked as a “fantasy”.

Andrew Fisher, executive director of policy for the Labour Party from 2015 and 2019, wrote that Sir Keir’s remarks were “an insult to Labour members and supporters”.

Momentum, the grassroots group set to support Mr Corbyn, hit back at Sir Keir: “Labour’s 2019 manifesto was fully costed.

“Keir should know, he stood on it as a member of the shadow cabinet.

“How about stopping attacking your own side during an election [Sir Keir]?”

Former Tory MP Michael Fabricant accused Sir Keir, “who was Corbyn’s right-hand man when he wrote both his manifestos, of “chutzpah”.

Former Tory cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke accused the Labour leader of “sheer nerve”.

He wrote on social media: “This from the guy who backed two ‘actual’ Corbyn manifestos. The sheer nerve is unbelievable.”

A video clip from the Labour leadership election in 2020 showed Sir Keir describing its 2017 manifesto as a “foundational document”.

Sir Keir has repeatedly tried to distance himself from his predecessor since becoming Labour leader in 2020, despite serving in Mr Corbyn’s cabinet as a shadow Brexit minister.

Earlier Sir Keir was forced to defend his party’s proposal to ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s against claims of “nanny-state” interference.

Speaking at Whale Hill Primary School in Middlesbrough, the Labour leader told broadcasters: “I don’t really care what people call it. If the price for a child of not taking action is losing your teeth between the ages of six to 10, that’s a price that’s too high.”