More to fix the UK economy than Brexit, Keir Starmer tells business leaders

The Labor leader gave a speech outlining his 'mission' to give Britain the fastest and most sustained growth in the G7 group of countries industrialized

Keir Starmer described his "mission" on economic growth (

Image: Getty Images)

Resolving Brexit alone will not be enough to stimulate the economy, Keir Starmer admitted today.

Critics blamed EU exit for the UK's slow growth rate and called for closer ties to the bloc to boost Britain's performance.

But, outlining the details of his 'mission' to give the UK the fastest sustained rate of growth in the G7, Mr Starmer said the country was lagging behind rivals even before the chaos triggered by the 2016 EU referendum.

Speaking to trade body UK Finance in the City of London, he said: 'We are wrong if we think the only problem with growth is Brexit.

Blaming almost 13 years of Tory-led, conservative rule, the former Shadow Brexit secretary warned: "We haven't seen any significant growth in those 13 years.

The Labor leader spoke to trade body UK Finance (

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Getty Images)

"The problem we have on growth, skills and investment predates Brexit, and so just saying the problem is Brexit, the answer is Brexit, I think fails to address the problem underlying that is so important, about investment and stability."

Asked about spurring growth while trying to wean the UK off cheap overseas labour, Mr Starmer said upskilling UK citizens was key .

"We have to get rid of the idea that migration is the answer to all our problems," he said.

"We've had a skills problem in this country for decades."

The mere fact of bringing in tens of thousands of migrants to revive the economy was a “band-aid”, he added.

He also said growing the economy would raise wages and help families through the cost of living crisis.

"You're not really going to get a higher standard of living, higher wages, unless you have a proper growth strategy," Starmer said.

As Prime Minister