Last week, Keir Starmer unveiled his “Plan for Change,” a six step strategy designed to lift the country out of what he describes as the “tepid bath of managed decline.” From building homes to reducing NHS waiting times, Starmer’s plan targets some of the country’s most urgent issues. However, as ambitious as it sounds, the question remains: Is this a genuine blueprint for transformation, or is it simply a political rebrand aimed at regaining public trust?
The targets are:
- Building 1.5 million homes and fast tracking planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects.
- Putting more money in the pockets of working people – although no specific target has been set.
- Treating 92% of NHS patients within 18 weeks.
- Recruiting 13,000 more police officers, special constables and PCSOs in neighbourhood roles.
- Making sure 75% of five-year olds are school ready.
- Achieving 95% clean power by 2030 (down from 100%.)
The timing of Starmer’s speech is important; just five months after Labour’s election victory, the party has already found itself in the position of needing a reset, with revised priorities and a clear attempt to shift gears. This is slightly concerning. Labour’s early days in government have been met with mixed reactions, and it’s clear that things haven’t gone as smoothly as hoped since July; with August riots, geopolitical events, economic turbulence, and backbench revolts complicating the landscape, it’s understandable why Starmer would want to recalibrate his approach.
But while understandable, needing a reset so early on is a worrying sign, and one that raises questions about Labour’s ability to deliver on its promises. In this environment, the “Plan for Change” represents Starmer’s attempt to demonstrate that Labour has a clear, measurable agenda for the next five years. But will it be enough to address the growing sense of frustration among voters, who were hoping for more immediate action after the euphoria of the election?
Notably absent from Starmer’s plan is any mention of reducing migration, despite this being one of Labour’s previously stated priorities. Migration has surged to levels in the hundreds of thousands, up from the tens of thousands promised by both Conservative and Labour governments in the past.
These numbers now seem controversial and raise questions about why migration wasn’t included in the plan, especially given the rise of Reform UK, which has made immigration a key part of its platform. A recent poll by FindOutNow has even placed Reform UK ahead of Labour for the first time, with 24% of support compared to Labour’s 23%.
Starmer has previously stated that migration will fall under his government, but so far, he has avoided setting a specific timeline or target. This omission is slightly puzzling, particularly as migration continues to be a key issue on voters’ minds. For the government to ignore this issue, especially at a time when Reform UK is capitalising on it, risks leaving them vulnerable to criticism for failing to address one of the most contentious and pressing topics of our day.
Another challenge for Labour is its overreliance on a waning narrative. Since July, one key aspect of Labour’s strategy has been the repeated use of the “14 years of Tory rule” line. While this may have been effective in gaining support during the election campaign and their early days in government, this tactic is already growing stale.
The constant referencing of the past decade’s failures is starting to lose its impact and could potentially alienate voters tired of hearing the same old grievances. Obviously, Labour’s supposed “honeymoon period” is now clearly over, and their continued reliance on blaming the Tories may begin to irritate those looking for fresh solutions rather than finger pointing and whataboutery.
The key question now is whether Starmer’s plan for change can move beyond lofty ambitions and become a genuine roadmap for the future. With the euphoria from the general election fading, this could be a make-or-break moment for Starmer’s leadership. Voters are watching, and whether his government can rise to the challenge will determine whether Labour can truly break the cycle of decline and offer the transformative change this country needs.
However, the need for such a reset just five months into power, alongside the ongoing pressure from within the party and from the public, raises serious doubts about whether Labour is truly prepared to lead. Only time will tell.
by Sukhpal Garcha, Senior Account Executive (Public Affairs)