Labour launch a new review every two and a half days

3 December 2024, 10:09 | Updated: 3 December 2024, 11:32

Labour have launched more than 60 reviews since entering government less than five months ago.

Analysis by Sky News shows dozens of reviews, consultations and taskforces have been kicked off by Sir Keir Starmer's government in just 149 days.

This means a different appraisal has been set up every two and a half days since 5 July.

These range from a major Strategic Defence Review to a probe into potential restrictions on junk food advertising.

The reviews span numerous departments, with six focused on health - such as the Darzi review into the state of the NHS, and analysis into the potential costs of assisted dying legislation.

The Home Office has embarked on seven reviews, including one into the prosecution of police officers and another into how to define "ninja swords".

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Additionally, Labour is undertaking eight reviews related to housing - and six in the Department for Transport.

Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was asked about the sheer number of reviews set by Labour as Sir Keir prepares to launch new government targets in a major speech on Thursday.

The minister said his party is "not announcing a review this week".

He told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "We're announcing a plan for change.

"We're announcing what we want to do to get children ready for school, to get NHS waiting lists down, to get more people the chance to have a home of their own and the other things are all set out in the plan."

Sir Keir is looking to draw a line under a tough first five months in office with the launch of his "plan for change" later this week.

The prime minister will set out milestones in key policy areas to achieve the targets laid out in the manifesto.

Sir Keir has described it as the "next phase" of government that will allow the public to hold him and his team to account on their promises and will be reached by the end of the parliament.

The milestones will run alongside public sector reform, Downing Street said.

Writing in The Sun on Sunday, the prime minister compared "focusing the machinery of government" to "turning an oil tanker" and said that "acceptance of managed decline" has "seeped into parts of Whitehall".

"The British people aren't fools. They know a ruthless focus on priorities is essential," he wrote.

Labour's missions, as laid out in their July election manifesto, focus on economic growth, energy security and cleaner energy, the NHS, childcare and education systems, as well as crime and criminal justice.

Ahead of revealing the details, Sir Keir said in a statement: "This plan for change is the most ambitious yet honest programme for government in a generation.

"Mission-led government does not mean picking milestones because they are easy or will happen anyway - it means relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people.

"Some may oppose what we are doing and no doubt there will be obstacles along the way, but this government was elected on a mandate of change and our plan reflects the priorities of working people."

(c) Sky News 2024: Labour launch a new review every two and a half days