Sir Keir Starmer took a day off campaigning today as he looks almost certain to enter No 10 on Friday.
He plans to ‘hit the ground running’ as soon as he is elected with a policy blitz and a budget to kick off a ‘decade of national renewal’.
Here’s a look at what he’s planning for his first 100 days.
DAY ONE
If the polls are proved right, he will head to Buckingham Palace on Friday morning where the King will ask him to form a government. He will then head to Downing Street as Prime Minister, where he will deliver a speech outside No 10. Insiders say he will aim to reassure voters that Labour will be ‘on the side of working people’.
Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) speaks at a campaign event on June 29 – a day before he took a break
Starmer hugs his wife Victoria – who he may enter 10 Downing Street with next week
Once he is behind the famous black door, Sir Keir will appoint his top team of ministers – but there will be ‘limited changes’ compared to his shadow cabinet. The King’s Speech will be set for July 17.
THE FIRST FORTNIGHT
MPs will return to the Commons on July 9 to be sworn in. The parliamentary recess will be delayed until July 31, with MPs set to return to Westminster on September 2.
Meanwhile, Labour will begin appointing dozens of peers – with a number of business figures such as Dame Sharon White, outgoing chair of John Lewis, tipped to join the red benches to serve as ministers.
Dame Sharon White, outgoing chair of John Lewis, is tipped to join the House of Lords
Sir Keir’s first major event on the world stage will come on July 9, at a summit celebrating Nato’s 75th anniversary in Washington DC. The following week, he will host a summit of the European Political Community at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
SUMMER POLICY BLITZ
Over the coming weeks, Sir Keir will launch a policy blitz. Rachel Reeves’ Treasury team will begin preparations for a Budget in September. Wes Streeting, set to become health secretary, will try to end junior doctors’ pay dispute. And Angela Rayner, who is expected to become housing secretary, will announce plans to boost housebuilding – including a review of green belt land. Her radical plans to reform workers’ rights are also expected to be introduced.
Wes Streeting (left) is set to become Starmer’s health secretary
Ms Reeves’ fiscal rules will be put into law, with a pledge to include a bill which requires the Office for Budget Responsibility to provide forecasts for budgets.
There will also be a resurrected version of Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban young people from ever smoking, and mental health care reform.
Sir Keir has promised to bring in Martyn’s Law to help protect venues against terror attacks. Other bills will deal with renationalising the railways, establishing a publicly-owned energy company, anti-social behaviour and reforms for renters.
But Labour will also wield the axe to some Tory policies – including the Rwanda plan, which will be gone ‘on day one’.
BUDGET
Rachel Reeves’ first major test will come when she delivers an autumn statement in mid-September. She has promised to give an ‘initial injection of cash’ into public services, but with tight public finances, it may prove tricky.
Ms Reeves has ruled out hiking national insurance, income tax or VAT – but has insisted there is ‘nothing in our plans that requires further tax rises’.
Rachel Reeves (left in the pale blue suit) has ruled out hiking national insurance, income tax or VAT
Among the revenue raising measures expected in the first budget, however, is the controversial planned tax raid on private schools – charging them 20 per cent VAT and scrapping the 80 per cent relief they receive on business rates.
DAMAGE CONTROL
Labour will seek to uncover any urgent issues in need of attention to avoid an immediate political crisis over the summer. The party has already drawn up a list of ‘black swans’ – possible problem areas.
Chief among them are overcrowded prisons, with fears some jails may be unable to accept new prisoners within weeks. Industrial action could also waylay Labour’s plans in other areas, such as healthcare.
And the party could face difficult decisions over how to respond to pay review recommendations for millions of public sector workers.
