UK opposition leader says Davos conference opportunity to speak to potential partners for Labour government

British opposition leader Keir Starmer attended the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. Starmer said the international conference served as an opportunity to speak with potential partners for a future Labour government.

Starmer said on Thursday that the international meeting of world business leaders in Davos was a chance to speak with CEOs and investors who would be willing to partner with a future Labour government to push its green prosperity plan.

During a panel discussion at the conference, the Labour leader said a renewables strategy is needed to address the challenge of high bills, the next generation of jobs, and an obligation to combat the worsening climate crisis.

As the opposition leader detailed the party’s growth plan, Starmer also criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for not attending the global forum. Starmer told those in attendance that a future Labour government would pursue an “active state” approach and would be ready to partner with businesses.

Starmer said that as the United Kingdom is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis that has resulted in widespread industrial strikes, the country can benefit from a clean energy plan that would lower fuel costs, create jobs, and play a part in tackling climate change.

The Labour leader also said Sunak’s absence in the conference was noticed by some of the people he has spoken to. The criticism of Sunak’s no-show was mentioned by fellow Labour member Rachel Reeves, who is expected to become finance minister under a Labour government.

“Somebody has got to be an ambassador for Britain and the prime minister and the chancellor are not here,” Reeves told a separate audience, referring to current finance minister Jeremy Hunt, who was also not in attendance. “We are here to send a message at the next election…the British economy will be open for business again.”

Trade minister Kemi Badenoch and business minister Grant Shapps, however, were in attendance at the event, as well as Sunak’s predecessor Boris Johnson, who urged countries to double down on military assistance for Ukraine.

The Labour party is surpassing the governing Conservative party in public polls and is widely expected to take power in the next elections.