Under Keir Starmer's government working people paid more, farmers felt abandoned and veterans let down - Burrows
Families were taxed at record levels, farmers felt abandoned and people “who do the right thing” felt overlooked under Sir Keir Starmer’s government, the Ulster Unionist leader has said.
Jon Burrows was reacting to the Prime Minister’s resignation on Monday morning, after it became increasingly clear he did not have the backing of Labour MPs.
Senior figures in the party have praised his success in turning around the party’s fortunes and thanked him for his leadership.
The group backing his heir apparent Andy Burnham says Labour has “a chance to turn a corner and make good on its promise of ‘change’”. Centre left grouping Mainstream says it is the “final chance” for Labour.
Perhaps the most controversial policy by Sir Keir’s government in Northern Ireland was the UK-wide change sit made to inheritance tax for farmers. Labour lowered the threshold for the death tax to cover farms with assets of £1m, which it later increased to £2.5m after pressure from political rivals and the farming lobby.
The government’s legacy proposals, agreed in advance with the Irish Government, which would allow prosecutions of NI veterans also prompted anger from former servicemen and unionist politicians across the UK.
Reacting to the PM’s resignation, Mr Burrows said: “In 2024 the country voted for change. Instead, it got a government that too often failed to deliver.
“Taxes rose to record levels on working families, while many of those who do the right thing felt increasingly overlooked.
“Working people paid more, farmers felt abandoned, veterans felt let down, and the WASPI women were denied the justice they had been promised.
“The Mandelson affair was a serious misjudgement that damaged public confidence and highlighted wider problems at the heart of government.
“No matter who succeeds as Prime Minister, the Ulster Unionist Party will work constructively with them because that is in the best interests of Northern Ireland.
“But that relationship must work both ways. The next government must govern for every part of the United Kingdom, deliver where this one failed, and treat Northern Ireland as a full and equal partner in our Union.
“On a personal level, I wish Sir Keir Starmer and his family well. Leadership is not easy. While I have strongly disagreed with many of his decisions, public service brings immense pressures and responsibilities, and I wish him every success for the future.”