Health Secretary Yvette Cooper will signal a revival of the New Labour-era Sure Start scheme, with new parents getting support with their babies at more than 1,000 centres across England by 2028.
The Health Secretary will set out the plan as Labour’s conference in Liverpool draws to a close.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Andy Burnham will continue efforts to set out his radical programme for government, with the current triple lock on pensions set to be dropped to pay for a national social care service, the promise of a change in the electoral system and the potential for Labour to campaign to rejoin the European Union.
Expansion of Healthy Babies programme
The Health Secretary will set out the expansion of the Healthy Babies programme to all local authority areas to revive the Sure Start principle of an integrated approach to supporting families.
The plan – dubbed “Sure Start 2.0” by aides – will see parents get enhanced infant feeding and mental health support, help to form strong relationships with their babies along with contact with health visitors and midwives.
Labour has been setting up new family hubs, however more than half of local authorities in England currently do not have health services in the centres, unlike the original Sure Start scheme.
Cooper's announcement
Ms Cooper is expected to say: “Since the election, Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell have been working to rebuild family hubs across the country, bringing back support for parents and for young children.
“But something is missing. In half of communities, compared to the last time round, the healthy babies services – mental health support for mums and dad, the feeding and bonding support for your new baby.
“That changes now.
“I can announce we will bring back the Sure Start health services into every family centre.
“Reaching up to 1,000 hubs over the next two years.
“One of the Labour Party’s greatest achievements restored to families throughout the land.”
Evidence and political context
Labour pointed to analysis of the original scheme by the Institute for Fiscal Studies which showed access to a Sure Start centre between birth and age five significantly improved the educational achievement of children, with benefits lasting at least until GCSEs.
But the party said the programme was “left to fade away” by the Conservatives after 2010.
As Labour delegates leave Liverpool, Mr Burnham will use a series of broadcast interviews to explain his radical agenda as he begins to set out his party’s approach to the next general election.
In his conference speech on Tuesday he vowed to turn the page on Margaret Thatcher’s 1980s reforms and bring about greater public control over housing, water and energy.
He confirmed he wants to end the current pensions triple lock, which guarantees increases in line with the highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5%, in order to free up cash to fund his long-held ambition of creating a NHS-style care service in England.
And he said Labour will fight the next election with a commitment to change the first-past-the-post system used in Westminster contests.
Mr Burnham also set out the need for the UK to decide on its “long-term relationship” with the European Union, vowing to set out “options” for ties with Brussels around the major UK-EU summit later this year – which could potentially see Labour going into the next election seeking to rejoin the bloc.
