Keir Starmer says the phone was cut for 'months' as his family struggled with bills
The Labor leader said he did not claim to have grown up in "severe poverty", but understood the challenges faced by households in difficulty
(
Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Keir Starmer has described how his family's phone was cut off for "months straight" as a child as they struggled to pay their bills.
The Labor leader said he did not claim to have grown up in "great poverty", but he said he understood the challenges faced by struggling households.
Mr. Starmer was asked about the cost of living disaster facing Britons this winter, with inflation and interest rates rising, and energy bills set to soar 80% to 3 £549 per year for households on default rates in October.
He faced criticism from a caller that Labour's plan to freeze the energy price cap at the current level was 'too tentative' and insisted on the fact that he wasn't "kicking the road".
"I completely understand," he told BBC Radio 5Live.
"My dad worked in a factory and my mom worked as a nurse. I actually know what it's like to sit around the kitchen table and not be able to pay your bills.
Picture:
Keir Starmer/Labour Party)"I remember our utilities, our phone being cut off because we couldn't pay the bills, so I know what's going through people's heads."
Asked how long the line was down, he said, "For periods, months at a time, but we got to a point where we couldn't pay for utilities.
>"I'm not claiming great poverty or anything, but I know what it's like to sit around the table and think we can't make ends meet.
>"Millions of people will be having this anxious conversation as we speak, so...I completely understand."
Asked whether Labor should be more radical, he said his plan 'addressed the concerns of millions of people', but acknowledged a new approach would be needed by the middle of next year .
"I don't accept that it's a kick in the road," he said.
The Labor leader said he did not claim to have grown up in "severe poverty", but understood the challenges faced by households in difficulty
(
Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Keir Starmer has described how his family's phone was cut off for "months straight" as a child as they struggled to pay their bills.
The Labor leader said he did not claim to have grown up in "great poverty", but he said he understood the challenges faced by struggling households.
Mr. Starmer was asked about the cost of living disaster facing Britons this winter, with inflation and interest rates rising, and energy bills set to soar 80% to 3 £549 per year for households on default rates in October.
He faced criticism from a caller that Labour's plan to freeze the energy price cap at the current level was 'too tentative' and insisted on the fact that he wasn't "kicking the road".
"I completely understand," he told BBC Radio 5Live.
"My dad worked in a factory and my mom worked as a nurse. I actually know what it's like to sit around the kitchen table and not be able to pay your bills.
Picture:
Keir Starmer/Labour Party)"I remember our utilities, our phone being cut off because we couldn't pay the bills, so I know what's going through people's heads."
Asked how long the line was down, he said, "For periods, months at a time, but we got to a point where we couldn't pay for utilities.
>"I'm not claiming great poverty or anything, but I know what it's like to sit around the table and think we can't make ends meet.
>"Millions of people will be having this anxious conversation as we speak, so...I completely understand."
Asked whether Labor should be more radical, he said his plan 'addressed the concerns of millions of people', but acknowledged a new approach would be needed by the middle of next year .
"I don't accept that it's a kick in the road," he said.
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