Sir Keir Starmer’s first five months in office have hardly been smooth sailing – so it’s perhaps not surprising the government is already planning something of a relaunch.
From cutting pensioners’ winter fuel allowance to charging farmers inheritance tax, Labour argue they were forced into choppy waters thanks to a £22bn budgetary black hole below the waterline of the ship of state.
But they’ve made a whole series of unforced navigational errors too – from “freebiegate” to Sue Gray and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh going overboard.
Labour insist this week’s “Plan for Change” is no reset – but a long-planned “new phase” of government.
We’re told Sir Keir will put forward a series of measurable “milestones” – targets the government is promising to hit on voters’ key priorities ahead of the next election.
The idea is to turn the five long-term and slightly woolly national missions we heard about in the general election into measurable progress in the shorter term.
As Rishi Sunak found to his cost, setting out such clear numerical pledges to the electorate is a gamble – but Labour have clearly decided they need to do more to show voters they’re taking action.
We understand the milestones will include a focus on NHS waiting lists, early years development, energy, crime, improving disposable income and housebuilding.
But from what minister Pat McFadden said to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News on Sunday morning, there won’t be a specific target on migration, although they will be “talking about” the issue.
That’s despite small boat arrivals reaching 20,000 since Labour took power and
