Mel B has called on Sir Keir Starmer to make tackling domestic violence one of his “national missions” if he becomes prime minister.
The Spice Girl, who is a survivor of domestic abuse and a campaigner for change, sat alongside the Labour leader to speak about the issue at a Women’s Aid panel.
She described herself as a “big fan” of Sir Keir‘s and said she is confident that he will win the next general election.
But the star warned him: “Keir, I’m holding you to everything. I will come after you, I will.
“For every survivor and everybody’s voice out there that can’t be heard, I am their voice – so watch out. Because I really do like you.”
The Labour leader told Mel B, who is a patron of the charity, that a “powerful strand” within his pledge to “make Britain’s streets safe” is tackling violence against women and girls.
Making the streets safe was one of five goals at the core of his manifesto – also including securing high sustained growth and building an NHS fit for the future – which he unveiled in February.
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After being grilled by Mel B, he said he would make the issue a priority as part of his pledges. But the singer and TV star urged the politician to make it a separate, specific mission of its own.
“If you’re going to talk about your five main things you have to add another one on that is specifically domestic abuse,” she said.
As she continued to put Sir Keir on the spot, the audience began to laugh at her grilling of the politician.
“You may well laugh but I’m being bloody serious,” she said. “It needs to be a standalone thing that we get educated on from the ground up, inside out.”
Sir Keir said he “absolutely will make it a priority” if he is prime minister, but did not commit to a sixth national mission.
He said “end-to-end change” is needed and “tinkering around the edges isn’t going to make a difference”.
