KEIR STARMER has outlined plans to reform housing, increase police numbers, and address challenges in health services in what he described as a "reset" of his government after a challenging first five months in office.
Speaking from a film studio in Buckinghamshire, the Labour leader unveiled six targets aimed at "taking the country forward" and invited voters to judge his administration on their delivery.
“Today, we publish new milestones, measurable milestones that will also give the British people the power to hold our feet to the fire,” Starmer said during his address.
The announced "plan for change" includes measures to build 1.5 million new homes within five years, deploy more police officers to tackle anti-social behaviour, and reduce National Health Service waiting times. Starmer also reiterated pledges to deliver the highest sustained growth among G7 nations and improve living standards across the UK.
Additional goals include improving pre-school education for children and achieving 95 per cent clean energy by 2030, which Starmer described as part of the government’s mission to restore public confidence and address declining poll numbers.
Immigration and criticism
Starmer did not include immigration targets in his list of milestones but maintained that reducing both regular and irregular migration remained a priority. Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the announcement, calling it an "emergency reset" and accusing the government of offering "nothing concrete on immigration."
"This relaunch can't hide the reality of a government that doesn't know what it is doing," Badenoch said on X.
Despite criticisms, the Labour government has highlighted several achievements, such as launching a publicly owned clean energy company, lifting the ban on new onshore wind farms, and strengthening workers' rights. Plans to renationalise Britain’s railways next spring have also been announced.
Starmer received praise for handling this summer’s far-right riots and has worked to repair Brexit-related diplomatic rifts with visits to over a dozen countries.
Public and political challenges
However, a recent Ipsos opinion poll revealed that 53 per cent of Britons were "disappointed" with the government’s performance so far. Starmer's premiership has faced controversies, including the scrapping of winter fuel payments for some pensioners, retaining a child benefit restriction, and his acceptance of gifts from a donor.
The Labour government also faced its first resignation last week when Louise Haigh stepped down as transport secretary, adding to challenges in the wake of media scrutiny over the departure of his chief of staff Sue Gray.
Starmer defended his decisions as necessary trade-offs after years of Conservative rule, claiming the Tories left behind a £22 billion shortfall in public finances and significant issues in the NHS and prison systems.
“No taking our country forward without levelling with you honestly about the trade-offs we must face together,” Starmer said. “The path of change is long. It’s hard. And there are few thanks in the short-term.”
(With inputs from AFP)
