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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to visit Southampton today

  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves are to visit Southampton on Monday.
  • The pair will visit Ocean Gate in Southampton's Eastern Docks, where they will speak with workers.
  • They are expected to take questions from the media.
  • Follow for live updates.

3:41pm

The Labour leader announced plans for a National Wealth Fund during his visit which he said would provide investment, both from government and private sources, which could then be used to improve the port. 

"We want to put some of that money into our ports because ports like this and other ports around the country have huge potential.

"Whether that’s for floating offshore wind in some of them, whether that’s for development of what you’re already doing and getting back some of the work that was going on here before we left the EU.

"All of that I think can be part of the future here. We’ve already earmarked money to put into our ports for the future.

"It won’t all be government money, I want private money coming in alongside it, investors to say that’s where I want to put my money going forward."

3:36pm

During today's visit, Sir Keir stressed the importance of the port, adding that it is "absolutely vital". 

"There’s huge ambition at this port a great future actually for not only your jobs but future jobs to be right here.

"One of the things that has been impressed upon us today is just how much trade comes through this port and how important it is to the country in terms of the work that’s going on."

1:34pm

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to ABP workers for around 15 minutes before taking questions from members of the press.

Click here to see our photo gallery of the Labour leader's visit.

12:58pm

Some photos from Sir Keir Starmer's visit today. 

Sir Keir Starmer speaking to ABP workers in Southampton

Sir Keir Starmer speaking to ABP workers in Southampton

Sir Keir Starmer speaking with Labour candidates Satvir Kaur and Darren Paffey at the Port of Southampton Sir Keir Starmer at the Port of Southampton (Image: Stuart Martin)

11:49am

Labour will be hoping to take both Southampton Test and Southampton Itchen in this election, with current polls suggesting they will both go red.

Southampton Test is currently held by the retiring Labour MP Alan Whitehead.

Southampton Itchen voted Conservative in 2019, with Royston Smith also standing down next month, and Sir Keir will hope to win there if he is to win a majority in Parliament.

11:48am

Sir Keir is now speaking to the waiting media at Ocean Gate in Southampton.

(Image: PA)

11:47am

Sir Keir ends the Q&A session with workers by asking those who didn't get to ask questions to get in touch if they want to ask questions or give pointers.

He's now due to speak to the media, including the Daily Echo.

We'll bring you what he says right here.

11:45am

The final question is about carers.

Sir Keir: "Whether it's care workers or anybody else, there's quite a number of people that want to get back into the workforce but are struggling to do so.

"What we've got plans for is a supported scheme back into work," citing Siemens who have a version that he says works well.

"We've got a lot of people working in social care on fragmented contracts not particularly well paid with no career progression, and a lot of them leave, because they can't progress, to go to the NHS."

He says if people are leaving social care they can't get people out of care homes.

11:41am

Another worker asks about how a Labour government would have an impact on climate change.

Sir Keir cites Great British Energy as "driving forward" renewable energy "and getting the yield back".

"Many of you will be paying your energy bills to company owned by governments across the world and not our government."

He adds there's a race for pretty much every green job going.

Rachel Reeves adds that GB Energy and the national wealth fund would encourage the private sector to invest, as well as insulating homes which would bring down energy needs.

"That's about bringing good jobs, paying decent wages, tackling the cost of living and bringing energy security, as well as the importance of meeting our obligations to future generations.

"There is every reason to think we can succeed in these areas, but only if we have a government that sees it as a priority."

11:38am

An undecided voter asks about why she should vote for Labour, citing the cost of living.

"What I would say is we are determined to change our economy to make sure we never get into a cost of living crisis again.

"When I was growing up we didn't have a lot of money, my dad worked in a factory and my mum was a nurse."

He says he understands people taking on a second job, or cancelling a holiday.

"They may not seem like big things but they really bear down on people. We've got a big plan for energy, renewable energy is cheaper, and it will keep your bills down for good.

"If I say that the day after the election I've got a wand in my pocket and it will be fine, you wouldn't believe me and it wouldn't be true."

He also talks about raising mortgage rates as a "direct result" of what "Liz Truss did".

He says he has in his "mind's eye people like you who have suffered from the cost of living crisis. Creating wealth is the only way through this, but we'll be on it from day one."

11:35am

Asked about leasehold, Sir Keir says he wants to "turn it around" so "that you get the better rights".

He says Labour would ban leasehold "which would make things a lot better" for those buying a leasehold property.

11:34am

Another worker asks about Labour's plans to improve the relationship with the EU and "getting rid of the bureaucracy" and paperwork causing "grief".

Sir Keir replies: "You probably see this more sharply that anywhere else.

"We took a decision to leave the EU so we're not going to go in, but we think the deal is botched. We do think there's a better deal to be had, that will have to be negotiated, it does not mean going back in, but it does mean a better deal for businesses."

He talks about defence, security and businesses as areas that would benefit.

(Image: PA)

11:32am

Sir Keir adds: "I think in the last few years we've had a lot of chaos, division and chopping and changing. As you look in on politics, you must think what is going on, but it is a serious thing. Global investors look into our country and think that is not the environment I'm going to invest in right now. That strategic thinking is necessary to invest in."

He talks about stability and "everyone understanding what we're trying to do".

11:30am

Another worker now asks how the UK can be an economic superpower.

Rachel Reeves says econmic growth and prosperity "isn't just a nice to have, it's absolutely essential if we are to be better off".

"We want to be a pro business and a pro worker government. You can't be pro working people unless you are pro jobs in all parts of the UK.

"There is huge potential in the UK economy," she adds, listing several areas including floating offshore wind and life sciences. "It is not seen in the GDP numbers and your wallets in the last few years. People have had less money to spend and public services have been falling back."

11:28am

A worker, Chas, asks about zero hours contracts, saying it works well for him.

Sir Keir says some are just "exploitative" with people not knowing how much work they will get.

"In some cases that flexibility will work. Our plan is to get rid of the exploitative zero hour contracts, but with the flexibility that people can have their hours regularised over time. You will have the right to demand the contract you need, but if it works for you you can carry on over time."

Chas asks Sir Keir to think about protection when they take sick leave.

(Image: NQ)

11:26am

Sir Keir now says that the UK should "get ahead" on floating offshore wind.

"There is a global competition for this stuff, we should get ahead of this," he said.

He talks about reforming the planning system again to ensure "all the available land" is used.

11:25am

Rachel Reeves is asked about how the port has decarbonisation but that the planning system is a bottleneck.

"We need more planners in the local planning system to crack on with plans coming through," she says.

"We can't hold back growth that has happened in the last few years. We're going to have to do things that are unpopular that some people would disagree with. Unless we do that we're not going to get that growth. We have to focus on wealth creation."

11:23am

Asked about ensuring growth by a port worker, Sir Keir says that Southampton is one of the most important ports and was "a major driver" of growth.

"Ports like this and other ports around the country have huge potential, whether that's floating offshore wind, whether that's development, whether that's getting back some of the work going on before we left the EU, we see ports as a major driver."

(Image: NQ)

11:20am

Sir Keir and Ms Reeves travelled to Southampton earlier from London via train.

Starmer is now addressing port workers.

Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves (Image: PA)

11:17am

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Southampton.

He's joining shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in a visit to the Ocean Gate in Southampton's Eastern Docks.

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