Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer slams storm response on visit to Northumberland

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has slammed the Government’s response to Storm Arwen on a visit to Northumberland.
Labour leader Keir Starmer packs Christmas food hampers with Scott Dickinson as he visits Hadston House youth and community project. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)Labour leader Keir Starmer packs Christmas food hampers with Scott Dickinson as he visits Hadston House youth and community project. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Labour leader Keir Starmer packs Christmas food hampers with Scott Dickinson as he visits Hadston House youth and community project. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Severe weather saw thousands of homes across the county lose their power supplies, some for more than a week.

And after speaking to some of the worst affected families, the opposition chief slammed Boris Johnson for focussing on damning claims over Christmas parties at the expense of dealing with the crisis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We need a plan for a storm or a flood – we can’t stop it, but we can have a plan and the Government hasn’t got one,” Starmer said at the Hadston House community project.

Labour leader Keir Starmer talks to Northumberland residents about the impact of Storm Arwen on a visit to Hadston House. Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty ImagesLabour leader Keir Starmer talks to Northumberland residents about the impact of Storm Arwen on a visit to Hadston House. Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
Labour leader Keir Starmer talks to Northumberland residents about the impact of Storm Arwen on a visit to Hadston House. Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

“I’ve been talking to people who have been without power for 10 days, who have talked about being in the pitch dark and without the ability to contact anyone.

“They were left there because the Government hasn’t got a plan, instead they’ve got a Prime Minister up to his neck in stories of dishonesty in Downing Street.”

Storm Arwen left 240,000 people without electricity.

More than a week later, about 500 homes and businesses across the region were still waiting to be reconnected, a situation branded “completely unacceptable in 2021” by the leader of Northumberland County Council.

Sir Keir Starmer and Northumbria’s police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness pack Christmas food hampers during a visit to Hadston House youth and community project. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)Sir Keir Starmer and Northumbria’s police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness pack Christmas food hampers during a visit to Hadston House youth and community project. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Sir Keir Starmer and Northumbria’s police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness pack Christmas food hampers during a visit to Hadston House youth and community project. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bosses at Northern Powergrid, which has borne the brunt of criticism on the ground, claims to have restored power supplies to all of its affected customers, although many are still reporting outages and unreliable connections.

One of those was Anne Marie Coe, who told the leader of the opposition she was so far more than £5,000 out of pocket for spoiled food, hotel accommodation and repairs to her home.

The Government has also come under attack for its response to the storm, with claims of a “North-South” divide.

Mr Starmer said: “People feel very strongly that had this happened in the South East, that this would never have been the case.

Sir Keir Starmer at Hadston House. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)Sir Keir Starmer at Hadston House. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Sir Keir Starmer at Hadston House. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They’re asking why [it took] the Prime Minister seven days to declare a major incident.”

He added: “I don’t think the infrastructure has been strong enough and I think the response has been slow across the board.

“There needs to be a backup plan, if there is an emergency there needs to be a plan to say if there is a storm.”

Read More
'It's been 12 days of hell,' says Northumberland man after Storm Arwen power cut...

Enjoy our headlines with fewer distractions and sign up to a digital subscription today - fewer ads, faster load times and all of the stories you need.

Your support for our journalism means we can continue supporting our communities for generations to come.

Click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu to find out more and sign up.