In December 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a comprehensive “plan for change” aimed at addressing pressing issues in the UK, including housing, healthcare, living standards, crime, childhood education, and clean energy. The strategy set measurable targets for these areas, enabling the public to hold the government accountable for its progress over its term.
Starmer’s housing commitment aims to construct 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England by 2029. The government measures this progress through the annual net additional dwellings, which currently stands at just over 200,000 homes per year—below the target needed to meet the goal. Early figures will soon reveal whether the construction rates can meet expectations as the government ramps up its efforts in later years.
In healthcare, Starmer pledged that 92% of patients in England would be seen within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament. Although recent NHS data shows progress from 58.8% to 61.7%, this target hasn’t been met since 2015, highlighting the significant work that remains.
To raise living standards across the UK, the government forecasts a modest increase in real household disposable income (RHDI) at just 0.5% annually on average over the Parliament, representing a challenging economic climate. GDP per head is projected to rise slightly by 1% in 2025, reflecting limited growth, especially when compared to the previous Conservative administration which saw declines in living standards.
On crime, the government aims to increase neighborhood policing, proposing to add 13,000 officers, PCSOs, and volunteer constables by the end of its term. The latest figures show a slight increase of 214 officers in neighborhood roles, a 1.3% increase, but detailed future reports are awaited for comprehensive statistics.
In education, Starmer has set a target for 75% of five-year-olds in England to be ready for school. Currently, 68.3% of children meet this good level of development, indicating small progress that needs to continue as more assessments are projected in the coming years.
Finally, on energy, the government committed to achieving at least 95% clean power by 2030, a shift from its previous goal of zero-carbon electricity. Current figures report that clean sources comprised 73.8% of electricity generation in 2024, with future updates expected to monitor this vital transition.
This comprehensive overview illustrates the challenges and small victories the Starmer administration faces as it works towards fulfilling its ambitious agenda, with critical progress being tracked through various benchmarking measures on a timeline set for the coming years.
