Starmer pledges cause a stir – NHS to living standards, but no pledge for immigration

Trending – Starmer pledges cause a stir – NHS to living standards, but no pledge for immigration

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has revealed the six “milestones” he wants to achieve to bring change to the country. He has asked the public to measure his government against his milestones at the next election. 

His milestones include building more houses, cutting NHS waiting lists and putting more police officers on the streets. 

Starmer’s 6 pledges

• Putting more money in the pockets of working people
• Building 1.5m homes and fast-tracking planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects
• Treating 92 per cent of NHS patients within 18 weeks
• Recruiting 13,000 more police officers, special constables and PCSOs in neighbourhood roles
• Making sure three-quarters of five-year-olds are school-ready
• 95% clean power by 2030

The reaction

The right and left-leaning media approach the story differently. 

Much of the Conservative Party-supporting media have over the past week noted the prime minister is attempting to ‘reset’ following what they call an ‘ailing’ first five months in office, noting the ‘bumpy’ start to his premiership. 

The Daily Telegraph uses its headline to note the pledges come as the economy ‘stumbles’ following the announcement of his tax rising budget. It highlights the prime minister has “watered down” two of his election pledges. The Daily Mail says his pledges are just “buzzwords and political nerdspeak” and along with the Daily Express they highlight the lack of plans for tackling immigration – what the paper calls the ‘biggest problem facing the UK.’

The left and centre media have also talked about a reset. They focused on Starmer’s pledge to raise living standards and called for a cultural shift away from a ‘declinist mentality.’ 

The PM writes in The Times (centre-right) about his plans, where he attacked “blockers and bureaucrats” who have “choked off” economic growth.

The Daily Mirror says the prime minister’s pledges prove the public made the right decision when they voted Labour into government in July. The i focuses on his promise to raise living standards and suggests he is gambling the next general election on making voters “feel better off.” The Independent backed Labour for the general election but has been critical of them since they entered No 10. The publication argues the prime minister’s speech was overshadowed by the Bank of England’s warning that the chancellor’s much-criticised led to job losses.

Front pages react

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