Keir Starmer will pitch Labour as the "party of national security” in a bid to squeeze Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives on traditional Tory turf as the rivals prepare to face off in a U.K. election debate on Tuesday.
During a campaign meeting with veterans in northwest England on Monday, Starmer will reiterate Labour’s commitment to defense via what he calls the "nuclear deterrent triple lock.” In a statement, Labour said 14 ex-military personnel have been chosen to stand as candidates in the July 4 election.
"Keeping our country safe is the bedrock of stability that the British people rightly expect from their government,” Starmer, who has guided Labour to a commanding poll lead since taking over the party in 2020, said in the statement.