Keir Starmer claims he does not want to tell people how to live their lives – despite plotting a raft of nanny state diktats including supervised toothbrushing for young children _l
Sir Keir Starmer tried to claim he does not want to tell people how to live their lives – despite preparing a series of new nanny state interventions.
The Prime Minister refused to say if he thought Britons should have more children after an alarming report by the Office for Budget Responsibility warned the country’s population could soon start to go into decline.
And he insisted there was no need for the Government to intervene with a plan to boost the dwindling birth rate, even though some commentators say the economy will be damaged as the workforce ages.
Asked by reporters on his trip to Washington DC if the Government thinks the birth rate needs to rise, Sir Keir replied: ‘I think there are a number of ways of growing the economy.
‘When I said local growth plans I actually had in mind plans led by mayors, local businesses, local representatives, not the birth plan.
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted there was no need for the Government to intervene with a plan to boost the dwindling birth rate
The Government is also planning to ban outdoor smoking and may try to outlaw disposable vapes
Labour plans to introduce supervised toothbrushing for young children in free breakfast clubs. (Stock image)
‘So I think growing the economy can be solved by local growth plans, by stabilising the economy and all the measures we’ve already set out – but I’m not going to lead a, sort of, birth plan.’
And asked if Britons should have more children, he insisted: ‘I’ve spent my whole time saying I’m not going to tell people how to live their lives – I’m not going to start by dictating whether they should or shouldn’t have children.’
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His comments, however, came just days after he vowed to bring in a series of public health measures to combat childhood obesity.
‘I know some prevention measures will be controversial but I’m prepared to be bold, even in the face of loud opposition,’ Sir Keir said on Thursday as he announced a ban on television adverts for junk food before the 9pm watershed.
He also wants to bring in supervised toothbrushing for young children and ban energy drinks for under-16s.
The Government is also planning to ban outdoor smoking and may try to outlaw disposable vapes.
Last night former Tory MP Miriam Cates told the Mail: ‘It’s very concerning that the Prime Minister doesn’t appear to understand the basic mathematical problem underpinning the UK’s sluggish growth; namely that falling birthrates mean we have fewer and fewer working people supporting growing numbers of pensioners.
Sir Keir announced a ban on television adverts for junk food before the 9pm watershed last week (Pictured, people walk past an advert for McDonald’s)
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) said Keir Starmer spends his whole time telling people how to live their lives
‘No amount of local business plans or productivity drives are going to change this fundamental fact.
‘If the Prime Minister wants growth, he should follow the example of increasing numbers of Western leaders in urgently looking for ways to increase the birthrate.’
Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has six children, said: ‘Starmer seems incapable of telling the truth. He spends his whole time telling people how to live their lives with smoking bans, advertising bans and potentially sugar and salt taxes.
‘No one is asking him to tell people how many children to have, all that is being suggested is that he should say having children is a good thing but the old lawyer never wants to give a straight answer.’
