GB News viewers have hit back at Keir Starmer referring to his parents’ jobs in another speech as part of his General Election campaign.
It came less than a week after members of the public poked fun at the Labour leader, claiming they had heard him point out he was the “son of a toolmaker” multiple times before.
Speaking in the West Midlands today, Starmer explained he had recently met a family who had to move house because they couldn’t afford to pay hundreds of pounds more per month in mortgage repayments after interest rates skyrocketed.
“They don’t know what to do, they can’t afford it. They are going to have to move,” he said. “That is the price that they are paying for the damage the Tories have done to our economy. The real life impact.”
Starmer added: “I grew up working class. I know what it’s like not to be able to pay your bills.
“My dad worked in a factory. My mum was a nurse. And we couldn’t always make ends meet.
Keir Starmer recalled “growing up working class” in his speech today
GB NEWS
“What you do in those circumstances is you choose which utility you will lose. So we lost the phone, we decided we would have the phone cut off because we couldn’t afford the bill.
“That is the sort of decision that so many families across the country are having to take.”
However, some onlookers questioned his remarks, pointing out previous reports, including by Morning Star, that his father owned the factory in which he worked.
According to reports, Starmer’s dad ran his own toolmaking business, the Oxted Tool Co, until the 1990s.
Crazzy Wabbit said: “His Dad owned the factory. Starmer wasnt ever really working class.”
Martin Davies asked: “Starmer has just said that he grew up working class. Is that really true? I thought that his father was a factory owner.”
Claudette H penned: “Of course, Starmer had to inject his customary ‘my father was a toolmaker’, working-class vibe. Does he ever say anything new or interesting?”
Jen Lamont commented: “Psst Keir if you were really working class, you didn’t have a phone in the house.
It was in a box at the end of the road if you were lucky. If not it would be at least two to three streets away.”
She added: “Boring same old story, Keir. We all choose what bills we pay and when. If your parents did it then they were just normal.”
John Hynd said: “Starmer’s father owned a factory, I’m led to believe. Is he playing the working class card in an appeal to get real people on board?”
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GB News has contacted the Labour Party asking for comment.
Members of the public have also pointed out that Rishi Sunak has often referred to his parents’ jobs.
One social media user wrote: “How many times has Sunak said, ‘My father was a GP and my mother was a pharmacist’. We were an ordinary family, oh but I went to Winchester!”
Another penned: “Sunak has already mentioned his parents had a pharmacy.”