Labour’s Wes Streeting: Boris Johnson’s New Deal speech was ‘heavy on the rhetoric’

Labour MP Wes Streeting has said Boris Johnson was “heavy on the rhetoric” in his speech announcing a spending spree to help Britain “bounce back” from coronavirus.

The Prime Minister wants to spend £5 billion on building projects in a bid to create jobs and boost spending, with money being allocated to schools, railways, hospitals and roads.

But Mr Streeting, who is the shadow exchequer secretary to the treasury told Mike Graham that while the investment is welcome, the “substance” of the plan “doesn’t quite match the rhetoric”.

“What the Prime Minister announced today wasn’t actually any new money.

“He was simply saying, here’s a whole load of things we plan to build, we’re going to bring £5 billion of that expenditure forward.”

[talktv]

What did you think of Boris Johnson's 'New Deal' speech? ▼

[paulsmith-xtsh]

I would be happy if he sorted the ones coming over on the boats

[steveellis]

Ask him what Labour would do. Not good enough for you to allow Labour to fear monger. Get a grip and do your job.

[anthonywilson]

£5 billion. for the whole bloody country over 10 years whilst spending £100 billion on HS2. Sorry but this puts HS into perspective. Are we once again stuck in contracts that we can't get out of without risking scandal on how these contract. we're awarded, Also if costs doubling and trebling contracts need to be examined and cut. For goodness sake Boris is known to be a disaster when it comes to money .We need a full assessment of our position after covid then consolidation then creativity whilst feeding in HS2.

[paulheath]

If boris put trillions into building liebour would still slag him off

[simondickinson]

On the face of it, building better infrastructure as a platform to encourage investment into a post-Brexit UK, and to assist growth of existing UK businesses, is exactly the right approach to take.

Obviously though, you’d have to be a half glass full type like Boris to recognise this, and not a dour, glass half empty sort who detests change, detests risk, and prefers the warmth of things standing still.

The problem in the UK now, is that 48% of the population no longer believe in the UK and would take comfort from failure just to be able to say I told you so.

And furthermore, its not about what the Government can do to get the country back on its feet again, its more about what YOU are going to do to help get the country back on its feet again.

Let’s hope the UK’s get up and go reappears and hasn’t got up and gone.

[davidandrews]

The most important thing is:
Nobody cared what labour had to say in December.

[michaelgray]

MORE TO THE POINT BORIS JOHNSON!!!) "
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TAXI SERVICE MID
MICK GRAY ALNWICK.

[sandrab]

I thought it was a great speech. I'm so fed up with gloom and doom. I wish the three leftie miseries, Keunsberg, Peston and Rigby would ask something other than put-down questions all the time. They must sit around working out the worst questions that only they want answers to.

[Creations]

No. Everything which is built ends up going to foreigners so how do we benefit? Our railways were respected the world over. Now nearly every UK railway (24 out of 30 ist still correct?) is owned by either Germany, France or netherlands. They push up the prices and drive down quality in our country while raising quality and lowering prices in theirs.

Builing more offices? For who? Now people have learnt they can work from home more efficiently no one will want offices.

Houses? All going to foreigners. Literally all. I still can't get one as a single white English male. No one cares unless I black myself up. Then the SJW's will cancel me.

The government needs to start building things people need. Make the UK a leader in plastic recycling, that saves the planet and generates a product... plastic! They won't make much money but it's a good cause and demand will only ever increase. Bring ship building back to the UK. Turn the North-East and Southampton in to ship breakers. Gets us salvage, saves the planet and generates a product we can both use or sell. China make garbage electronics, create automated electronic component manufacturers running 24/7. Don't need people, can be mostly mechanised. QUality goes up, demand for product goes up, money generated may not go directly to people but the business tax goes to local government who can support those actively (not watching TV) looking for work.

The government won't do anything which takes effort. Build more buildings and ignore the people.

[adamc]

My concern was his comment about ‘low interest money that’ll be borrowed’ only creates inflation 🙈

[terencejay]

It's a perfect way for Boris to carry on with the Ultra-White Elephant, HS2; 'high-value, job-creating investments'

[pauls]

I'm not impressed by Boris in general, this deal, no deal or any other deal... the man is an out and out liar... the Labour Party are unelectable (NO MATTER THEIR LEADER) All Wolves In Sheeps Clothing... OUR NATION IS FUCKED!!!

[garethnewcombe]

Good intentions and good sound bite but £5b?
About 10% of what you’d need for major change on renewing infrastructure

[EmilyHartley]

The so-called democratic left’s equivalent to Matt Hancock.

[bikerslow]

Absolute bullshit from start to finish.

[gommechops]

The language he uses now I find discomforting, it has a Tony Blair-esque quality to it, of feeling like there is a meaning thats dressed up in a quasi patriotic bit of blurb that underneath was always found to be anything but patriotic. 'Levels of energy and speed that we have not needed in generations' could be straight out of Blair's playbook. To me it suggests nothing like Brits rising to the challenge as in years past - as he seems to insinuate - I would put money on it meaning big changes to society brought on by decisions and actors made far from that public. Married to industry. Boris what trust I had in you was not that much to begin with, but it has faded even more rapidly than I expected.

[Sir_Gerald_Nosehairs.]

Think like a lot of people on first hearing it, I'd like to know where the money is coming from without tax increases, cuts somewhere, or inflation. Alright, every country is the economic pits after The Virus Youtube Doesn't Like Named, but that borrowed money will still need to be repaid at SOME point in the future.

[tomashe]

Young people have no chance of owning a property and whats he going to do about that