The Labour Party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, has set forth a series of ambitious pledges aimed at transforming various sectors within the UK by 2030. These commitments include leading the world with 100% clean power, constructing 1.5 million additional homes in England, and ensuring 75% of children are "ready for school" by the age of five. As these targets are outlined, questions arise regarding the feasibility and implementation of these goals within the given timeframe.
Keir Starmer has revised the original target of achieving 100% clean power by 2030 to a more attainable 95%. The current share of low-carbon sources in electricity generation stands at 58.8%, showing little change since Labour came to power. Despite the slow progress, Starmer remains optimistic about the future. He emphasizes that these targets come with "measurable milestones that will also give the British people the power to hold our feet to the fire." The National Energy System Operator (NESO) supports this vision, stating that "it is possible to build, connect and operate a clean power system for Great Britain by 2030, while maintaining security of supply," though they acknowledge it is "at the limit of what is feasible."
In addition to the clean energy initiatives, the Labour government has re-committed to its manifesto pledge to hire 13,000 additional neighbourhood police officers, volunteer special constables, and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). The workforce figures for these roles are expected to be published each July, yet details on how many special constables operate in neighbourhood roles remain unspecified.
Housing is another critical focus for the Labour Party. They have pledged to build 1.5 million net additional dwellings in England over the course of the Parliament. However, recent data indicates a decline in housing development, with only 221,070 net additional dwellings delivered in 2023-24—a 6% decrease from the previous year. This decline is attributed to a record low in the number of housing projects approved by councils in England, largely due to a drop in applications from builders.
The Labour Party also aims to enhance early childhood education. They have committed to having 75% of children in England "ready for school" by age five by 2028. Currently, there is no specified data on this proportion. Furthermore, the government plans to raise the proportion of children with a good level of development to 67.7% by 2029. Presently, this figure stands at 67.7%, marking a slight increase from 67.2% the previous year.
The National Health Service (NHS) faces its own challenges. In December 2024, only 58.9% of patients due for procedures were seen within 18 weeks. This highlights ongoing issues within healthcare service delivery that require attention if broader social targets are to be met.
Lastly, the Labour Party has set a goal to boost real household disposable income (RHDI) per person across every region in the UK. This commitment aims to ensure equitable economic growth and improved living standards nationwide.