Starmer: Port of Tilbury is important for clean energy plan

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the Port of Tilbury would be an important part of the party's plans for clean power during a visit with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves

Sir Keir Starmer says the Port of Tilbury will be an important part of Labour's plans for clean power - if it wins the next election.

On a visit to Essex, the Labour leader said they had "a mission to have clean power by 2030 this port will be a part of that".

The creation of post-Brexit freeports has been a key policy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Sir Keir also blamed "the failure of government" for council finances.

He was asked about a warning from Southend City Council that it may have to file for a Section 114 notice - effectively declaring bankruptcy - if it does not cut spending.

Keir Starmer was told about the state of Southend-on-Sea City Council's finances during his visit to the port

Sir Keir told the BBC: "There are examples now across the country of councils that can't make ends meet and are going into the Section 114 process.

"But that is a failure of government because there hasn't been the support, there hasn't been the funding, to councils who are now struggling.

"I'm thinking about the people who are relying on their councils for their public services because at the end of the day they are the ones that are going to be the most anxious about this."

He added that there was "a profound sense for a time of change".

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Asked whether - if Labour was in power now - it would increase income tax thresholds and cut taxes further than the Chancellor did in the Autumn Statement on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: "Whichever way the government spins this, the tax burden will go up.

"For years we've been arguing the tax burden on working people should be reduced but the idea that yesterday changed anything is fundamentally flawed, because if at the end of this parliament people have less money available to them, then they are not better off."

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he made a start "in bringing down the tax burden" and chose "tax cuts that are going to help businesses" as well as stimulate economic growth.

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