In the first 100 days since taking office, the Labour Party under Keir Starmer’s leadership has made significant strides in various key areas. Let’s take a closer look at some of the achievements and initiatives that have been implemented by the new government.
Economy
Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, wasted no time in addressing the £22 billion deficit left by the previous government. She took immediate action by halting various projects, such as the Stonehenge road tunnel and the A27 Arundel bypass. Additionally, the government has put Boris Johnson’s promise of building 40 new hospitals under review, citing a lack of allocated funds.
Energy
Under the leadership of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, the government has made significant strides towards green energy initiatives. The ban on onshore wind power has been lifted, and a £7.3 billion national wealth fund has been established to invest in green infrastructure. A bill to create Great British Energy, a nationally owned energy production company, has also been introduced to support the country’s net zero strategy.
Transport
The Labour government’s first bill to pass the Commons was the rail nationalisation bill, bringing rail networks back under public control. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has also established Great British Railways to manage both track and train services. Additionally, local authorities in England now have the ability to run their own bus services once again.
Education
Labour has initiated a pilot program to introduce free breakfast clubs in primary schools across England. While the rollout is gradual, the government is committed to expanding this initiative to benefit more schools in the future.
Housing
To address housing challenges, the government has started to liberalize the planning regime by setting housing targets for local authorities. Measures to simplify the process of compulsory purchase orders and build on green belt land are also being considered.
Employment
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner introduced the employment rights bill within the first 100 days, focusing on protecting workers from unfair practices and ensuring paternity leave rights from day one of employment.
Immigration
The Labour government has ended the costly Rwanda scheme and introduced a border security command to combat people-smuggling gangs. Efforts to secure returns agreements with European countries are ongoing to manage migrant arrivals.
Justice
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood implemented an early release scheme for offenders to alleviate the overcrowding crisis in prisons. This decision was made in response to a prisons crisis inherited from the previous government.
Health
Health Secretary Wes Streeting commissioned a report by Ara Darzi, highlighting the urgent need for improvements in NHS services to prevent unnecessary deaths. Recommendations include focusing on prevention and implementing health levies on products like alcohol and tobacco.
Overall, the Labour government’s first 100 days have been marked by proactive measures to address key issues and deliver on promises made during the election campaign. These initiatives set the stage for further progress and improvements across various sectors in the coming months and years.
