Jeremy Corbyn declared the UK is being “held back by a self-serving elite" as he dubbed his party the “new centre ground” in British politics during his New Year’s message.
The Labour leader repeated his previous assertion that his is leading a “government in waiting” as he used the message to tear into the “weak and divided” Conservatives.
He said the prospect of a "new Britain" was "closer than ever before" adding that "the establishment” is “not as strong as they appear" and has "no idea how to fix their broken system or upgrade our stagnant economy".
After a dramatic 2017 which saw Labour defy predictions of a landslide defeat at a general election, Mr Corbyn vowed to use 2018 to help people "fulfil their hopes".
"Ours is a fantastic country full of wonderful, caring and talented people with the hope of a great future ahead of us, where we all share in the wealth we create," he said.
"But we are being held back by a self-serving elite who look after themselves and their friends, and a failed system which delivers staggering wealth at the top while more and more people struggle to simply make ends meet."
In 2018 "Labour's mission is to give our people support and security and use their talents, unleash their creativity and fulfil their hopes".
His comments came as an interview with the Sunday Mirror was published, in which Mr Corbyn said it was a "moral imperative" for people to pay their "fair share" of tax.
He said his message to the middle classes was that they too would need the NHS and must be prepared to fund it.
Defending Labour's plans to hike income tax for the wealthy, he said: "We must all pay our fair share. There's a moral imperative.
Read More
Corbyn's New Year message in full
"I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year.
"Ours is a fantastic country full of wonderful, caring and talented people with the hope of a great future ahead of us, where we all share in the wealth we create.
"But we are being held back by a self-serving elite, who look after themselves and their friends and a failed system which delivers staggering wealth at the top, while more and more people struggle to simply make ends meet.
"In 2017 we said: no more. There is an alternative and millions joined our cause in the general election.
"And now the establishment's secret is out: they're not as strong as they appear. Let's face it, they have no idea how to fix their broken system or upgrade our stagnant economy.
"In 2018, Labour's mission is to give our people support and security and use their talents, unleash their creativity and fulfil their hopes.
"The old political consensus is finished. We are staking out the new centre ground in British politics, backing the things which most people want but are blocked by vested interests.
"We are a government in waiting, while the Conservatives are weak and divided and stuck in an outdated rut with no new ideas.
"The hope of a new Britain, run in the interests of the many, not the few, is closer than ever before.
"Together we can, and we will, deliver it."
"We will raise tax at the top end in order to invest for the rest of society. I want to lead a Labour government that will do that."
At the general election, Labour set out plans for the threshold at which people start paying the 45p rate of income tax to be reduced to £80,000 from £150,000, with a new 50p rate for people earning more than £123,000.
Explaining why extra funding was required, Mr Corbyn said: "I do say to the middle classes and the well-off, one day you will be ill. You'll need the NHS.
"And your kids may not be able to buy a house. They're not going to get a council place because they're not in desperate need.
"Think about it. Are we a society that houses everybody? Or are we going to be a society that is the lowest-paid, worst housed, most indebted country in Europe? Because that's where we're heading at the moment."
MORE ABOUT