Amid a bumpy start mere months after a landslide election win, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to unveil an ambitious plan aimed at delivering the “noticeable change” voters expect from his Labour government. With specific targets across priority areas like living standards, housing, immigration, and NHS wait times, Starmer hopes to regain momentum and secure a second term.
Insiders say the mood in Downing Street has lifted in recent weeks, especially following a staff shakeup that saw controversial chief of staff Sue Gray replaced by veteran strategist Morgan McSweeney. Under McSweeney’s guidance, Labour is now laser-focused on setting clear goals that will stretch the government while still being achievable.
Translating Vision into Tangible Targets
Central to the new strategy is Starmer’s upcoming “plan for change” speech, slated for next Thursday. In it, he’ll outline a half-dozen priority areas with specific targets to be met by the end of the current parliament. These include:
- Increasing real disposable income
- Building 1.5 million new homes
- Reducing irregular migration and asylum hotel use
- Cutting NHS waiting lists
- Expanding access to childcare
- Boosting clean energy production
- Reducing crime rates
While some in Labour worry the approach risks overpromising, McSweeney argues it’s essential for focusing the government and showing voters that progress is being made. “Just trying to reach them stretches us, and if we get close then there’s still a good story to tell,” said one ally.
Rebuilding Trust Through Transparency
Key to the plan is an emphasis on transparency, with McSweeney planning to regularly publicize progress on each target so the public can hold the government accountable. It’s a calculated gamble aimed at rebuilding trust in politics.
“We’ll be putting [the targets] into layman’s terms… There was always this unanswered question: you’ve got the first steps in the short term, the missions for the long term – what comes in between?”
– Labour aide
The transparency push will draw on a data gathering operation originally launched by controversial ex-aide Dominic Cummings, but later mothballed. Now, under McSweeney, it’ll be supercharged to keep tabs on dozens of key metrics.
A Tightrope of Ambition and Realism
Meeting the new targets, especially around living standards and housing, will be an uphill battle given economic headwinds. But Labour strategists believe setting a high bar is necessary to spur action and maintain voter confidence.
“We spent years courting pensioners, farmers and small businesses – yet seem to have spent the last few months turning them against us,” lamented one Labour MP. Moving forward, insiders say the focus must be on achievable goals that deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives.
“Yes, we might not hit [the housing target], but if we even get close people will still see a big difference.”
– No. 10 source
Keeping Sight of the Next Election
While some in Starmer’s orbit worry McSweeney may be too focused on positioning for the next general election, his defenders argue that short-term achievements and long-term electoral success are intrinsically linked. Proving that Labour can deliver on its promises is seen as essential for securing a second mandate from voters.
Internal polling suggests Labour’s electoral coalition is still willing to give the government a chance to prove itself, at least for now. But with economic challenges mounting and critics like Elon Musk launching constant attacks, the clock is ticking for Starmer to show he can translate his vision into reality.
All eyes will now be on the prime minister’s speech next week, watching to see if his “plan for change” can steady Labour’s ship and keep the faith of those who propelled the party back to power after a decade in the wilderness. For Starmer, it may be the most important speech of his political life.
