Sir Keir Starmer vows to form a new publicly owned energy company to bring bills down if Labour wins the next election | The Sun

SIR Keir Starmer has vowed to form a state-owned clean energy company to force down spiralling bills if Labour wins the next election.

In a keynote speech delivered at Labour conference in Liverpool this afternoon, Sir Keir promised to set up "Great British Energy" within a year of winning the keys to No10.

The Labour leader said the company would produce green and clean energy -in line with Britain's aim to reach Net Zero by 2050 – and create new jobs to boost the economy.

The company will cost tens of billions of pounds to form and Labour hasn't yet said how it will pay for it.

In his major conference address to the party faithful today, Sir Keir also:

• Vowed to give homes to local people first – and set a radical new target for seven in ten Brits to own their homes
• Threw his weight behind Ukraine hailing 'Slava Ukraini' in the conference hall
• Promised a points-based immigration system like the Tories for the first time
• Tried to paint himself as Mr Brexit – saying it was time to make leaving the EU work
• Invoked the spirit of Tony Blair – saying Labour was ready to win big again like in 1997
• Insisted he would take on the Tories over the economy – accusing them of crashing it and losing the confidence of the public to manage the finances properly
• Gave a nod to the late Queen – saying she would inspire the party to 'turn up our collar and face the storm'

Sir Keir trumpeted: "We will set up Great British Energy within the first year of a Labour government.

"A new company that takes advantage of the opportunities in clean British power because it's right for jobs, because it's right for growth, because it's right for energy independence from tyrants like Putin."

The Labour leader blasted the Tories for their handling of the energy crisis causing misery across Britain.

Bills were predicted to hit a whopping £5,500 in April next year.

But Liz Truss stepped in this month with a promise to cap gas and electricity prices at £2,500 from October 1.

Sir Keir accused the Tories of allowing too many foreign businesses to own and control vital sources of energy.

He said: "The Chinese Communist Party has a stake in our nuclear industry. And five million people pay their bills to an energy company owned in France."

Days ago Labour announced a massive mission to save households £475 a year on energy bills by getting rid of petrol and gas, and making the country 100 per cent energy independent by 2030.

Under the plan, offshore wind would be quadrupled to 55GW.

Solar power would more than triple to over 50GW and onshore wind capacity would more than double to 35GW.

Labour argues that clean, home grown energy will lead to cheaper bills for British households.

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Alongside transforming energy Sir Keir also promised to “turn the UK into a growth superpower”.

He said the Tories have wrecked their reputation as the party of sound money after seeing the Pound plummet early yesterday.

Setting out his vision, Sir Keir promised to give back Britain its hope.

After a Tory tax-cut bonanza in last week’s mini Budget, he said: “What we’ve seen from the Government in the past few days has no precedent.

"They’ve lost control of the economy, and for what?

“For tax cuts for the richest one per cent in our society.”

On the war in Ukraine, the Labour leader pledged to never let Putin succeed.

He said: "We will stand alongside Ukraine and its people fighting on the frontline of freedom. So let this entire conference say together:

"Slava Ukraini!"

Sir Keir promised to unleash a housing revolution.

He said a Labour government would set a target of 70 per cent of home ownership.

And on immigration the party leader promised to control Britain's borders with a points-based system.

To reach No 10, Sir Keir will set out on the path of being a version of New Labour.

He claimed he’s wrestled back control from the hard left.

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And he said that Labour is now “the party of the centre ground” and “the political wing of the British people” — as Sir Tony said in the 1990s.

Sir Keir also hailed the changes under his leadership.

On Sunday he led delegates in tributes to the Queen and a rendition of God Save the King, the first time the anthem has been sung at the party’s conference.

A new Savanta ComRes poll shows Labour up three to 45 per cent, with the Tories down two to 33.

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