Keir Starmer parrots Tory language - and risks enraging Labour Left - as he says living off 'handouts' is less 'dignified' than working

Keir Starmer parroted Tory language today as he insisted living off benefits is less 'dignified' than working.  

The Labour leader took aim at 'handouts from the state' as he continues his charm offensive on former Conservative voters.

However, the tougher line could enrage some on the party's Left as they complain that Sir Keir is offering a Tory-lite prospectus. 

The comments - in an opinion piece for the Sunday Telegraph - came as more opinion polls showed Labour on track for a huge majority on July 4.

Sir Keir said: 'Serving the interests of working people means understanding they want success more than state support.

'Yes, this is about aspiration. I know our country is driven by it. Entrepreneurs. Parents working extra hours to give their children security. Young people striving for their first home.

'But it is also about dignity. The Labour mission was built on the pride of working people earning a decent living for themselves.

'We will never turn our back on people who are struggling. But handouts from the state do not nurture the same sense of self-reliant dignity, as a fair wage.'

The latest Savanta poll published has Labour on 42 per cent of the vote, and the Conservatives are on 19 per cent.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK meanwhile are on 16 per cent of the vote, in the research conducted between June 19 and 21.

Sir Keir is already under renewed pressure from one of Labour's biggest donors today to pump up borrowing for a splending splurge if he becomes PM.

Unite chief Sharon Graham pointed to US, where debt is around 124 per cent per cent of GDP, as she argued that the UK has 'wriggle room' to invest more.

Official figures last week showed the UK's debt pile stands at £2.74trillion - 99.8 per cent of GDP, the highest proportion since the 1960s. Servicing the debt cost £8billion in May alone.

Sir Keir and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves have been making great play of their determination to keep the books under control, despite criticism from think-tanks that the spending plans from all main parties are unrealistic.

However, Ms Graham told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that Labour must take off the 'straitjacket' and spend more to boost growth.

'Well, look, I don't agree with Rachel Reeves in terms of what has been said about the plans on growth, because whilst we all want growth, I want growth,' she said. 

'I think everybody would want growth. We are going to have to borrow to invest. 

'Look, if you look at other countries in France, their debt to GDP is 112 per cent. In America, where the economy's growing, it's 130 per cent debt to GDP. 

'Ours is around about 99 per cent. We have a wiggle room. Give Britain a break. Give us a break. 

'I mean, these people that are out there in communities and the workers, they are literally hurting beyond anything that you could comprehend. 

'And what we need is we need to straitjacket off a little bit, get some wiggle room there.' 

Ms Graham - whose Unite union has long been one of Labour's biggest funders - said: 'Borrowing to invest is not the same as other borrowing. It's borrowing to invest.'

Unite has been vocal in urging Sir Keir to take a more radical approach in government. Ms Reeves has ruled out borrowing to fund day-to-day spending, saying her priority will be reforms to boost economic growth.

Latest figures show US debt is running at around 124 per cent of GDP. Increasing the UK's debt pile to that level would be roughly equivalent to going another £800billion in the red, at current GDP volumes. 

America finds it easier to maintain high debt levels, partly because the dollar is the world's reserve currency.  

The respected IFS think-tank has been among those warning that Labour's proposals for tax rises of £8.5billion would still leave the country facing deep cuts in public services.

They have also been critical of the Conservative pledge to slash around £17billion off taxes.