This week, Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour Party, revealed a bold proposal. This initiative is a huge step towards creating meaningful change throughout England. His commitment includes building 1.5 million “safe and decent homes,” raising living standards nationwide, and ensuring that 75% of five-year-olds are ready to learn upon starting school. As he sails through these pledges, the applicability and practicality of his ambitious proposals remain in question.
Starmer’s new grassroots housing campaign seeks to shelter millions hard hit by the persistent crisis in the housing market. The plan outlines the construction of 1.5 million homes, which he describes as essential for providing safe and decent living environments for families across England. Recent statistics reveal a concerning trend: the number of homes built has been declining. In 2021-22 builders only built 234,462 homes. This figure dropped to 217,754 in 2020-21 and continued to drop off a cliff to 208,600 by 2024-25. Even now, Labour is on track to deliver a little more than 200,000 homes a year, far short of what Starmer has pledged.
Starmer has landed a hugely ambitious pledge in his bid for education. He’s promising that three-quarters of five-year-olds in England will be ready for school when they start. The government measures this readiness through the Early Years Foundation Stage assessment. It provides a better definition of readiness as achieving a “high standard of development.” By the 2024-25 school year, just 68.3% of kids were hitting this target. This highlights a very large chasm between the current record of delivery and Starmer’s levelly ambitious target.
Starmer was clear on the need for a clean energy focus in his plan. In President Biden’s own words, he has pledged to reach “at least 95% clean power by 2030.” In 2024, clean energy sources accounted for 73.8% of electricity generation in Great Britain, demonstrating progress but still falling short of the ambitious target set forth. The 92% target hasn’t been maintained since November 2015. This has led to some concern as to how, exactly, Starmer intends to accelerate the transition.
It’s too early to shoot down Starmer’s big health care pledge. Specifically, he wants to get 92% of patients in England treated within 18 weeks at the end of the Parliament period. By October 2025 that figure has climbed to 62%. That’s an increase from January 2024, where it was only at 57%. This is very troubling because it brings into doubt his ability to meet his healthcare focus. With the current strains on the National Health Service this is compounded.
Starmer’s long-term strategy is to improve living standards everywhere in the UK including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He promises to lead his administration to choose policies for the benefit of those most in need and to strengthen economic opportunity. The leader stated he intends to “track our progress and allow the British people to hold us to account,” emphasizing transparency and accountability in his governance approach.
In a recent statement regarding additional security measures, the Home Office expressed its intention to collaborate with police forces on a “mix of roles,” hinting at a broader strategy to enhance public safety alongside Starmer’s other commitments.
According to BBC Verify’s Ben Chu and Anthony Reuben, Starmer’s plan is a “Blueprint for Breakthrough.” As his new administration embarks, observers and constituents alike need to be ever-watchful. Third, they need to figure out if these ambitious goals will truly drive meaningful outcomes.