The Hundred Days

As we enter the second week of Labour's historic election victory, the impact of Keir Starmer's premiership is already reshaping Britain's political landscape. Let's examine the actions that have been taken in these early days of the new government.

Cabinet appointments:

Most shadow cabinet members have taken on the same roles in government that they held in opposition.

Notable appointments include:

Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Rachel Reeves as Chancellor of the Exchequer (first female in this role)

David Lammy as Foreign Secretary

Yvette Cooper as Home Secretary

The ‘Great Offices of State’ are held 50% by women.

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Junior ministerial appointments:

Some notable appointments include:

·????? Richard Hermer KC as Attorney General (replacing Emily Thornberry)

·????? Dan Jarvis MBE as Security Minister

·????? Patrick Vallance as Science Minister

·????? James Timpson as Prisons Minister

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Appointment process:

·????? Starmer moved quickly to make key appointments after taking office.

·????? There appears to be an emphasis on competence and experience in selections.

·????? Many shadow ministers are taking on the same portfolios they held in opposition.

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Composition of government:

·????? A record 11 women in the 25-member cabinet.

·????? Majority of cabinet members are state-educated.

·????? All cabinet members supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.

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Challenges and considerations:

There is a cap of 109 paid ministerial positions, with 95 in the Commons.

Some former shadow ministers have not yet been given new positions.

Balancing competence with political considerations may become more challenging as the Parliament progresses.

There are lots of capable new MPs in this new Parliament who will be anticipating government jobs in the not too distant future.

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Swift Action on Energy Policy

True to his word, Starmer hit the ground running. Within 72 hours, his government lifted the 'de facto' ban on onshore wind farms in England. This move, long championed by environmental groups and industry leaders, has immediately signalled a clear commitment to green energy and economic growth. Chancellor Rachel Reeves proudly declared that Labour had "done more in 72 hours to unblock planning than in 14 years under the previous government".

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Diplomatic Engagement on the World Stage

Starmer has wasted no time in reasserting Britain's role on the global stage. He's currently in Washington DC, attending his first NATO summit as Prime Minister. In his opening address, Starmer reaffirmed Britain's unwavering support for Ukraine and emphasised the importance of NATO unity in the face of Russian aggression. He's already held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden, discussing strategies to strengthen the transatlantic alliance and address global challenges.? Starmer's approach to these talks will be closely watched, particularly his stance on 'Trump-proofing' aid to Ukraine.

However, Starmer has already run into a little choppy water with respect to his approach to defence. While his line on Ukraine remains robust - and he has reaffirmed the UK's financial commitment to Ukraine, Starmer would not be drawn on when the UK will meet the NATO target of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. Sunak had declared this would be by 2030 under a Tory government but that seems to have been nothing more than a political device given that in reality it would have required swinging cuts elsewhere in public services.

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NHS Reform: Immediate Steps

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has wasted no time in setting out his stall for NHS reform. In a seminar at the Tony Blair Institute, Streeting pitched Labour's NHS reform plan as a boost to growth, emphasising that reducing patient waiting times will lead to decreased incapacity benefit expenses. He's also already initiated talks with the British Medical Association to end the long-running junior doctors' strike, demonstrating his determination to resolving the long running industrial dispute.

Streeting has also announced the immediate establishment of a taskforce to tackle NHS waiting lists, with a focus on utilising spare capacity in the private sector to reduce backlogs.? In a controversial move, Streeting has brought in former Health Secretary Alan Milburn in a reform role. While Milburn's experience is valuable, his past involvement with previous waves of health reform has raised eyebrows among some Labour supporters. This morning Streeting has announced a warts and all review of the NHS by Lord Ara Darzi, surgeon and former junior Minister under Gordon Brown.

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Economic Transparency

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has moved quickly to assess the nation's financial state. She's commissioned an urgent review of the government's books from the Office for Budget Responsibility, to be presented to MPs before the summer recess. This move towards fiscal transparency sets a new tone for economic management and accountability and contrasts sharply with Truss and Kwarteng’s approach to economic management.

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Public Services: Early Reforms

In education, the government has already begun the process of recruiting additional teachers, with job advertisements posted for 2,000 new positions across England. The Department for Education has also initiated a pilot programme for breakfast clubs in 500 primary schools, laying the groundwork for a wider rollout.

In the realm of criminal justice, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has instructed all police forces to establish dedicated rape units within their existing structures, marking a significant step towards improving the handling of sexual assault cases.? More controversially, she has also announced the launch of the new UK Border Command, with recruitment for someone to head up that organisation already underway.

In a bold move to streamline digital transformation across the UK government, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is set to absorb the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), Government Digital Service (GDS), and the Incubator for AI (iAI). This strategic consolidation, announced by Secretary of State Peter Kyle, aims to create a unified hub for digital expertise and delivery, positioning DSIT as the epicenter of government innovation. The reorganisation seemingly is intended to optimise public service delivery, with a focus on personalisation, convenience and efficiency. Key objectives include implementing a single login system for government services, enhancing data sharing across the public sector and upskilling civil servants in digital and AI technologies. Alongside the reorganisation, Christine Bellamy has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Government Digital Service (GDS), taking over from previous CEO Tom Read.

Infrastructure & Housing

Angela Rayner, in her role as Housing Secretary, has already issued new planning guidance to local authorities, emphasising the prioritisation of brownfield development and the importance of meeting housing targets. This swift action aims to kickstart Labour's ambitious house-building programme.? Tellingly, the announcement on the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was made by Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, demonstrating that this is seen as a key lever for growth.

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International Relations

Beyond the NATO summit, Starmer's government has taken steps to reset relations with the European Union. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has held talks with his EU counterparts, paving the way for discussions on improving the UK-EU trade deal at the upcoming European Political Community summit, albeit the lens for these initial discussions has been on greater security and defence co-operation.

What's Next?

Looking ahead to next week’s King’s Speech, we're likely to see plans for nationalising the railways and birthing Great British Energy, a state-owned energy company. An employment rights bill is on the cards, promising to consign exploitative zero-hours contracts to history. The green agenda, too, is set to take centre stage. Labour's ambition to transform Britain into a "clean energy superpower" isn't just about tackling climate change; it's about powering our economy into the future especially by creating high quality jobs.? Several Conservative policies, like the ban on no-fault evictions, could find new life under Labour stewardship.

What’s Missing?

While Labour has hit the ground running, some areas are conspicuously absent from the initial flurry of activity:

• Brexit Follow-up:?Detailed plans for addressing ongoing Brexit-related issues, such as the Northern Ireland Protocol, are yet to be outlined. However, this needs good relationships with European leaders as a key dependency so expect this one to be a slow burner.
• Comprehensive Education Reform:?Beyond teacher recruitment and breakfast clubs, broader education policy changes remain unclear.? It would be reasonable to expect an Education Bill in due course given Labour has committed to a review of the National Curriculum.
• Climate Change Specifics:?Immediate actions on climate change, such as specific emissions reduction targets, are not prominently featured.? I’d expect to see much more on this in due course, especially given the focus on sustainability and green energy to growth.
• Social Care Reform:?Given the crisis in social care, more immediate plans are expected but not yet detailed.? Streeting has, unsurprisingly been focused on the NHS in his first few days but the problems of the health service can’t be addressed without reforming social care.
• Devolution and Constitutional Reform:?Plans for further devolution or addressing Scottish independence calls are missing.? However, Starmer has moved to quickly get rid of the ‘levelling-up’ agenda which Labour have dismissed as a mere gimmick.? Instead, emergent thinking seems to focus on the ‘Metro Mayors’; most of whom are Labour and who Starmer prominently hosted at 10 Downing Street this week.? It is notable that Starmer has made a number of frontbench appointments from the Scottish contingent so that Scotland will have strong representation in Cabinet discussions.
• Anti-Corruption Measures:?Immediate actions to address the PPP scandal are absent.
• Inequality:?Specific plans to address social and economic inequality are not obvious.
• Technology and Digital Policy:?Focus on areas like cybersecurity, digital rights, or AI regulation is lacking.

As we look towards the remainder of Starmer's first 100 days, it's clear that the new government is determined to make its mark quickly. These early actions demonstrate a commitment to swift, decisive governance across a range of policy areas. While challenges undoubtedly lie ahead, the Starmer administration has set a brisk pace in its opening days. The coming weeks will reveal whether this momentum can be maintained as Labour tackles the complex issues facing the nation.