Sir Keir Starmer's recent speech at Pinewood Studios, intended to reset his government's agenda, has sparked concern among Labour insiders that the new administration is struggling to deliver on its promises. The Prime Minister used the occasion to mock Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, but the address was seen by many as a damage-control exercise following the departure of senior aides and the fallout from the Budget.
The speech, which introduced new 'milestones' to accompany the government's existing 'missions', was criticised for its heavy use of jargon. One Whitehall insider likened it to 'slipping into a tepid bath of buzzwords'. Despite ministers denying it was a reset, the event came after Sue Gray's exit as chief of staff and the sacking of transport secretary Louise Haigh.
The new targets include improving household incomes, cutting NHS waiting lists, adding 13,000 police officers, building 1.5 million homes, and achieving 95% clean power by 2030. A Labour insider credited Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, with overseeing the reset, while the arrival of James Lyons as strategic communications director was praised as a 'breath of fresh air'.
However, the return to target-led government has been unpopular with civil servants, particularly as Starmer admitted some targets may be too ambitious. One minister defended the approach, citing the US election where strong economic growth did not prevent Democratic defeat. 'We need to show what these policies mean for people,' the minister said.
The most challenging target is building 1.5 million homes by the end of the parliament, requiring an annual rate not seen in 50 years. The government faces the threat of Reform UK, which has gained traction among voters disillusioned with the main parties.
