Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has just unveiled a major new policy statement, ahead of the next year’s general election, which he claims will deliver a “better Britain”.
The glossy document, which comes straight out of Tony Bair’s New Labour playbook, contains five pledges or missions that will form the backbone of Labour’s election manifesto.
Outlining the plan, Sir Keir Starmer called for long-term planning to tackle some of the biggest and thorniest challenges facing the country, including his five key missions:build back better; levelling up; green industrial revolution; national education service; and community wealth building.
Build Back Better is focused on creating jobs, protecting workers’ rights, investing in infrastructure and driving up living standards across all regions of Britain. Levelling Up aims to revitalise communities that have been left behind in the wake of Brexit and other economic changes. The Green Industrial Revolution seeks to tackle climate change by making sure that every home has access to renewable energy, every car is electric, and every person can benefit from green industries. The National Education Service would ensure that no matter where you live or how much money your family has, you will get an excellent education. Finally, Community Wealth Building seeks to create local economies that are based around local ownership so that communities can build their own wealth rather than exporting it out of their areas.
The Labour Leader believes that these five missions will give Britain a much-needed long-term plan to tackle its most pressing problems while also helping to build a brighter future for all citizens in the UK. He said: “It means providing a clear set of priorities.
“A relentless focus on the things that matter most.
“An answer to the widespread call for someone that can ‘fix the fundamentals.’
“A long-term plan to unlock Britain’s pride and purpose.”
He went on: “Each mission will be laser-targeted on the complex problems which drive our crises. The root causes that demand new thinking.
“New solutions born in all parts of our country. New ways of harnessing the ingenuity that is all around us.
“Each mission will come with clear, measurable outcomes.”
He went on to say that missions are not just another word for priorities or promises, they signal both what Labour would do differently, and crucially how it would do it.
“Mission-driven government is a different way altogether.
“Not state control or pure free markets, but a genuine partnership, sleeves rolled-up, working for the national interest. Not command and control, Whitehall knows best. But an approach that understands what national renewal means – change for all, from all.”
Concluding: “These missions will create jobs, reduce poverty, protect our planet and invest in our people – this is what real change looks like.”
However, critics deriding the missions and pointed out that while the rhetoric is good, the document is incredibly short on detail.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mocked Sir Keir at PMQs over the plan. He said: “We have heard that tomorrow he’s going to announce five missions.
“But we already know what they are – it’s uncontrolled immigration, it’s reckless spending, it’s higher debt and it’ssofter sentences. And for the fifth pledge, Mr Speaker, it’s that he reserves the right to change his mind on the other four.”
While Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands said: “Keir Starmer will say anything if the politics suit him. He lacks principles and has no new ideas.”
Whether or not Sir Keir succeeds depends on whether or not voters choose him as their next Prime Minister at this year’s election – but he hopes that this vision is clear and will appeal to the British public.