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Labour has revealed a business coup as the boss of pharmacy chain Boots has endorsed the party at Keir Starmer's big speech in Essex today. In a pre-recorded video, Sebastian James

endorsed Labour's economic programme alongside the boss of housing developer Thakeham. He said: “Some of the things that I think are incredibly important to a business like boots, for

me, first and foremost, it is stability. “A stable economy provides the right platform for sustainable economic growth and it is that real focus on economic growth that is going to be so

important in the next few years.” Labour's shadow cabinet is delivering a number of speeches on Sir Keir's six new pledges, being rolled out today in a Blair-style pledge card. Sir

Keir described the event as "an important day", following Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves, Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband and the party's candidate for Dover who spoke about the

party's small boats policy. He promised that the new six pledges would allow Labour to "look the public in the eye", describing it as a “downpayment on change”. Unveiling his

new pledge card, he concluded: "Here we are. One card, six steps, in your hand a plan to change the country". "This is a message we can take to every doorstep across the

country, and make that argument: decline is not inevitable, politics can make a difference, Britain will have a better future, and you can choose it with Labour. “Stop the chaos with Labour,

turn the page with Labour, return politics to service with Labour. And with patience, with determination, with these first steps we can rebuild our country with Labour." Opening the

event, Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said Labour is under “no illusions about the scale of the climb ahead” and the party will “rebuild Britain in lockstep with you”. Despite briefing

yesterday that Labour would be promoting a presidential campaign focussed around Keir Starmer, this event seems notable for trying to promote the profiles of members of the Shadow Cabinet.

Labour's six new pledges include: * Deliver economic stability * Cut NHS waiting times * Launch a new Border Security Command * Set up Great British Energy * Crack down on antisocial

behaviour * Recruit 6,500 new teachers However the Welsh Conservatives have already warned voters that Sir Keir's six pledges haven't been met in Labour-run Wales. Their leader,

Andrew RT Davies, said: "Keir Starmer’s pledges ring hollow for anybody with experience of the Welsh Labour Government, which is his blueprint for government. “Just a glance at the

record of Welsh Labour shows falling numbers of teachers, longer NHS waiting lists, economic decline and a soft touch on immigration. “Starmer would only mirror Labour’s failures in Wales

and take the whole UK back to square one.” MORE TO COME...