Reflecting on the early months of this government, a Labour minister — like others in this article, granted anonymity to speak freely — scored it “at best a medium,” adding this was perhaps understandable given “there are so many domestic and foreign crises all at the same time.”
A second minister complained politicians were “so over-exposed now with the current media climate” that voters “soon become sick of governments and quickly want change.”
“I think people wish they could just press a button and change ministers,” they added.
Already beset by internal No. 10 divisions, a rolling scandal over freebies, worsening economic indicators and public backlash over £40 billion in tax hikes, the prime minister’s big “plan for change” speech this month was supposed to mark a fresh start, drawing a line under a bumpy few first months in power.
Instead, what Starmer announced was “six milestones” for the country to judge his government on by the next election — which need not be held until summer 2029.
What’s the plan?
The speech referenced policy outcome goals, including the improvement of living standards in every part of the U.K. and bringing hospital waiting lists down to target levels.
