Keir Starmer unveils 'Plan for Change' with six 'Key Milestones'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced six ambitious "milestones" to guide his government’s policy priorities and provide a framework for accountability through the remainder of this Parliament.

In a speech at Pinewood Studios, Starmer outlined specific targets in key areas, including housing, healthcare, policing, education, energy, and economic growth.

The milestones, which Starmer described as “stretch goals,” are designed to focus government efforts and demonstrate measurable progress by 2029:

1. Economic Growth: Achieving higher real household disposable income and GDP per capita, with the aim of making the UK the fastest-growing G7 economy.
2. Housing and Infrastructure: Building 1.5 million homes in England and fast-tracking planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects.
3. Healthcare: Meeting the NHS standard of 92% of patients in England receiving elective treatment within 18 weeks.
4. Policing: Providing a named officer for every neighbourhood and recruiting 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs, and special constables.
5. Early Education: Ensuring 75% of five-year-olds in England are “ready to learn” when they start school.
6. Clean Energy: Putting the UK on track to generate at least 95% clean power by 2030.

Starmer’s Plan for Change puts significant emphasis on measurable results, aiming to restore public trust in government. He acknowledged that meeting the milestones will require "trade-offs" and "tough decisions," including the reallocation of resources during the next Spending Review in spring. The plan also prioritises reform to ensure taxpayer money is used effectively.

However, delivering these milestones will demand extensive coordination across government departments, private sector partnerships, and local authorities. The goals span areas requiring substantial investment and systemic change, such as building infrastructure, reducing NHS waiting times, and addressing regional inequalities.

Challenges for the Civil Service

Starmer took aim at what he described as a culture of "managed decline" in Whitehall, calling for a “profound cultural shift” in the civil service. He challenged civil servants to adopt a more ambitious and innovative approach, with accountability at the forefront.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union for civil servants, criticised Starmer’s comments, calling them “extraordinary” and arguing that civil servants are already overstretched following years of austerity, Brexit, and pandemic-related pressures.

With the milestones heavily reliant on the civil service for delivery, Starmer’s rhetoric signals an expectation for greater dynamism and responsiveness in government operations. New Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, who assumes his role in mid-December, has been tasked with ensuring the success of the Plan for Change, potentially necessitating restructuring in Whitehall.