Full Breakdown
Keir Starmer's Government: Progress on Key Pledges One Year On
12/16/2025, 7:22:48 AM
Overview of Starmer's "Plan for Change"
In December 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled his government's "plan for change," which set ambitious targets across various sectors, including housing, healthcare, living standards, crime, education, and energy. Starmer emphasized that these targets would serve as "measurable milestones" to track progress and hold the government accountable. As of now, the government is assessing its performance against these pledges one year later.
Housing Development Goals
Starmer's administration aims to construct 1.5 million "safe and decent homes" in England by the end of the current Parliament in 2029. The government measures progress through 'net additional dwellings,' which accounts for new constructions minus demolitions. Currently, the government is adding just over 200,000 homes annually, falling short of the average target of 300,000 needed to meet the goal. Notably, this rate is lower than the final years of the previous Conservative government.
Healthcare Improvements
The government has pledged that 92% of patients in England will be seen within 18 weeks by the end of the Parliament. Recent NHS data indicates that as of October 2025, 61.7% of patients were seen within this timeframe, a slight increase from 58.8% when Labour took power in July. However, the target has not been met since 2015, highlighting ongoing challenges in the healthcare sector.
Living Standards and Economic Growth
Starmer's plan also focuses on raising living standards across the UK, with a commitment to increase real household disposable income (RHDI) per person. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts a modest growth of 0.5% per year, which would represent the second weakest growth since the 1970s. Additionally, GDP per capita is projected to rise by 1% in 2025.
Crime and Policing Initiatives
The government aims to enhance neighborhood safety by adding 13,000 police officers, community support officers, and volunteer special constables by the end of the Parliament. As of March 2025, there were 17,175 full-time equivalent officers in these roles, reflecting a 1.3% increase from the previous year. Detailed figures on neighborhood policing are expected to be released in January 2026.
Education and Early Development
In education, the government has set a target for 75% of five-year-olds in England to be "ready to learn" upon starting school. Current data indicates that 68.3% of children achieved a "good level of development" in the 2024-25 school year, a slight increase from 67.7% the previous year.
Energy Transition Goals
Starmer's plan includes a commitment to achieve "at least 95% clean power by 2030," a reduction from the previous goal of "zero-carbon electricity by 2030." The National Energy System Operator has stated that while achieving this target is feasible, it would be challenging. As of 2024, clean sources accounted for 73.8% of electricity generation in Great Britain.
Criticism and Challenges
Despite these pledges, critics argue that the government's progress has been insufficient, particularly in housing and healthcare. The slower-than-expected growth in living standards has also raised concerns about the overall effectiveness of Starmer's policies.
Conclusion
As the government approaches the halfway mark of its term, the effectiveness of Keir Starmer's "plan for change" remains under scrutiny. The upcoming months will be crucial for assessing whether the government can meet its ambitious targets and improve the lives of citizens across the UK.
