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The Shift in Power: What Kier Starmer’s Labour Government Has Accomplished Since July 4, 2024
- Linda Aitken-Smith
- Oct 11, 2024
- 17 min read
Updated: Feb 7
This Blog Covers 90 Days - the 4th of July 2024 to the 3rd of October 2024!
Of The Labour Government Under Kier Starmer Since they won the Election on the 4th of July 2024
It has now been over three months since Labour under Kier Starmer took over from the Conservatives under Rishi Sunak at Number 10.
After their Landslide Victory at the 2024 General Election on the 4th of July 2024. Bringing to an end 14 years of Conservative rule.
He ran under a banner of "Change" He said the people had voted for "National Renewal" and "a return of politics to Public Service"
Starmer also said the British Public had given the Labour Party a clear mandate and that they would use this to deliver change.
To restore service and respect to politics they would end the era of noisy performances.
Tread more lightly on the lives of the British Public and unite the Country.
Starmer warned that things may get worse before they get better. He made no secret of the challenges to come.
After Taking Up Office
The prime minister swiftly confirmed the end of the Rwanda plan, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said there would be “rapid recruitment of an exceptional leader" for Border Security Control.
Labour said the new Border Security Control would be partly funded by diverting £75m from Rwanda's policy, set up by the Conservatives in 2022.
By the end of 2023, £240m had been paid to Rwanda. However, Rwanda has said it will not be giving any money back.
The one diplomatic mistake of Labour’s first week was its failure to inform the Rwandan government before announcing the end of the joint migration policy, which angered Kigali.
Just a few days after they came to power
Wind Power
They have removed the ban on onshore wind in England. And unblocked the production of cheap solar energy.
Wind is a key engine of change for Labour, who believe it will help the UK economy grow.
The new government has promised big step, - doubling onshore and quadrupling offshore turbines by 2030, to deliver clean energy and kickstart economic growth, so British bill payers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy. Check out the following for more information on Gov.UK
A clear plan to fix the NHS
They have given Junior Doctors a pay increase. Also Railway Drivers??
Rachel Reeves revealed a £22bn “black hole”in public finances, a “shocking inheritance” from the previous government.
“If we cannot afford it, we cannot do it,” the chancellor repeated as she announced a range of cost-cutting measures during her speech.
If the Government gets rid of the Major Drain to our economy see Conclusion below we will be able to look after those who have lived here and paid Taxes and we will be able to "afford it"
Amongst them was the controversial move to means test Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners, marking the first change to the cold weather benefit since it was introduced by Tony Blair in 1997.
Many have said that it should only go to older people who need it, many have said it is too harsh and will leave many older People with the decision of whether to eat or heat.
These are the legal Citizens of the UK who have paid into the system with the promise that they would be given a state pension when they reached pension age, they should be enjoying their hard-earned retirement. Not worrying about having to decide between eating or heating their home.
Voted To Retain The 2 Children Limit Child Benefit Payment
They also refused to scrap the two child benefit cap which prevents parents from claiming universal credit or tax credit for more than two children. Whch was introduced by the previous chancellor George Osbourne in 2017, under the Conservative Government. This was criticised by Labour MP's at the time it was introduced
Far Right Rioting After Tragic Killings in Southport on July 29th
Far right rioting broke out across the country this following the tragic killings in Southport on July 29th less than a month after Labour's election success. Kier Starmer promised swift justice to arrest those who were involved in the riots. Many were rioting due to misinformation about the identity of the suspect. This was followed by violence in towns & cities all over the country as the police clashed with rioters who were spreading anti-immigrant and Islamophobic messages.
Labour began the work of enacting reforms that it had promised ahead of the general election
Planning reforms so that it can deliver on the promise of 1.5 million new homes by 2029
They have taken steps towards their pledges on workers rights, Post-election, there has been talk of including a new “right to switch off” policy, which would allow employees to ignore bosses’ calls outside of work, as well as the right to request hours be compressed to four days.
Transport Secretary Louse Haigh reaffirmed the commitment to renationalise the railways, by waiting for existing contracts to expire or to be broken??
Ed Milliband said publicly owned company GB Energy is been established. But, Rachel Reeves said departments will need to find spending cuts to plug the public spending shortfall. So this will mean cancellations &/or pushbacks on some projects?? Labour would have known the broad outline of the challenge ahead concerning the Country's public spending shortfall caused by the Conservative government before the election. They should have factored this into their Manifesto before the Election as Labour said they had an absolute commitment to not raising income tax, national insurance or VAT.
Defence Spending
Labour need to improve and take on more recruits.
Getting Back To Work
They need to provide help for people to get back to work and change their approach or it will fail.
Labours crackdown on ALL The Water Companies
Includes ring-fencing money for Infrastructure Developments so it doesn't leak out into bonuses etc
They also need to Crackdown on any MP's who accept gifts. The government is to tighten transparency rules for ministerial hospitality, after a row over freebies received by Labour ministers.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden told the BBC ministers would now have to declare hospitality linked to their government job in their MP's register too.
This information is currently published by departments, but less frequently and without a requirement to specify the value.
It follows weeks of headlines about gifts received by Sir Keir Starmer and other top ministers from major Labour donor Lord Alli.
Reeves has said that voters can now expect:
Tax rises in her budget at the end of October....and experts have predicted
Capital gains,
Pension tax relief,
Inheritance tax
There Are Other Ways They Could Turn The Economy Around By Putting Into Place...
Return Of All Illegal Migrants Back To France
UK Government Needs To Stop Mass Migration To UK By Immigrants Coming Across From France
In Boats Provided By Human Traffickers. But the People smugglers would not exist without demand and the Migrants find them on the Internet. Or by word of mouth from other Migrants.
Migrant smugglers take advantage of people who want to escape hardship and find a better life, facilitating their illegal entry into a country.
How is migration related to human trafficking?
In cases where people are willing to migrate but unable to obtain regular access to the desired destination, traffickers may leverage this limitation during recruitment. They lure victims by promising safe travel and entry into the desired destination country.
Instead of spending more money
On Housing Migrants as they come across from France on boats, the UK needs to start taking Migrants back to France after taking Photos and fingerprints of all the migrants and also tell the migrants they will be refused Asylum in the future, as they came to the UK illegally on boats.
They should start with all the Migrants who have come across since 2020 and place them all on a large Ship, including all the Asylum seekers whose claims haven't been processed because of the illegal migration act should also be sent back.
They should then take ALL the migrants back to France and any Migrants that come across in more boats should be returned using Border Force Patrol Boats, they should tell the French Government that they will continue to do so, as the UK Government have already paid France to stop the Migrants from getting into the boats.
This will save £8.3 million a day (as of the end of June housing asylum seekers). ???? could have used the money to get rid of an estimated... 50%+ of the shortfall by returning all illegal migrants who have come to the UK. The money they have saved by scrapping the Rwanda Plan could be used to return Migrants who try to come over after they have taken back Migrants they were housing in Hotels...
The French Government should then stop any more Migrants getting into the boats before the Migrants get into the Sea, the French should then take the Boats and incinerate them. If they don't stop the Migrants from getting into boats the Government should ask for the money the UK Government paid to France to be repaid or insist the French Government do what they were paid to do, to make sure that migrants are unable to get into Boats and come across from France to the UK.
France should make sure they are returned to their country of origin as they didn't keep to their side of the deal with UK and stop them from getting to the UK.
The British Government should follow the examples of other Countries who have closed their borders and removed all Migrants from their countries, the UK should do the same and not accept any more Migrants to the UK who come by boat.
They should also make it known that we will not be accepting any more immigrants and any that try to come into the UK by illegal means will be detained and returned to their Country Of Origin via France.
The Government should return all illegal migrants that came across to the UK illegally by boats to the country of their origin. They could also add information saying that anyone who comes across to the UK by Boats or any other illegal means...
Will be Detained, Deported with no leave to return and ID will be recorded for future use Photo's, Fingerprints...under Reference ID.
Also to deter anyone from coming across to the UK they could use the Army to Police the beaches, or our Navy to protect our Shores and our Boundary out at Sea between us and France etc, this would mean anyone who tries to reach the UK will turn back and go to France. Any who come onto UK land should be arrested and deported as above.
Because then there would be no backlog of Asylum seekers.
The British Public would not be paying for all the Migrants in Hotels...
The Government should be looking after those who have paid into the system and who have also lived here all their lives
Pensioners should not have to decide on whether they would have enough money to eat or heat their homes.
Have to apply for benefits to top up their pensions to claim for example pension credit.
Wind Power
I think a cheaper and possibly quicker option would be to harness Wave Power to provide Electric for Homes and Businesses
As even though they have removed the ban on onshore wind in the UK, a few days after getting into power.They will need to overcome objections about the visual impact, where they are situated and their safety with local communities that will live near them- they would also have to offer viable significant discounts to local consumers.
They would also take up a lot of space. Also, there is a question of the longevity of the onshore and offshore turbines and the cost of these turbines will be a factor as to how much this will all cost and the Government won't see any real returns for a while.
As there will have to be a significant uptake from the consumers before it starts to pay for the initial costs.
Save The NHS
They have promised an extra 40,000 appointments and operations a week in the UK. By getting Staff to work Weekends?? And using the Private sector more. They have had an investigation done by Lord Ara Darzi which was due September 2024. Yo achieve the aim of cutting waiting times they will need a clear plan with costs and signs of progress of a reduction in waiting times and proof of more appointments and operations achieved.
Housing -Cheap & Affordable
Deliver on the promise of 1.5 million new homes by 2029
For Housing needed to house those who need a home who are on Housing Waiting Lists and cheap affordable housing for British Legal Citizens who cannot afford to buy their first home to get onto the housing ladder.
There are many reasons why using Long Term Empty Lets is a viable cost cost-effective idea, but there are too many to mention in this Blog.
Check out the link to the article on Action on empty homes at the end of this Blog.
Action On Empty Homes
There are over 1 million homes empty in England. There are over 300,000 people in need of a home. It's time for Action on Empty Homes.
Information from Action on empty homes...
There are too many homes standing empty.
There are nearly 700,000 homes in England that are unfurnished and standing empty. Over 261,000 of these are classed as ‘long-term empty’. When we add in holiday short-lets and second homes, total vacancy sits at over 1 million homes, meaning that across England, 1 in every 25 homes is empty.
It makes environmental sense -To Create homes from empty properties
Saves substantial amounts of material compared to building new homes
Minimises the amount of land used for development and avoids wasting embedded carbon; helping to combat climate change.
Furthermore retrofitting empty homes makes sense as deep retrofit is most easily and cost-effectively achieved while homes are unoccupied.
If any housing is needed for those who can afford to buy a home for British Legal Citizens, Social Housing housing should be built on brownfield land
The main difference between Brownfield or Greyfield and Greenfield is that Brownfield and Greyfield land has been built on before, while Greenfield land has not:
Brownfield
Land that has been built on before, such as an old factory or office building. Brownfield sites are often found in urban areas, but can also be found in rural areas. Brownfield sites may have existing infrastructure and transportation links, and may offer financial incentives, brownfield sites will have to be checked for contaminants from previous use, any land that is ok to use and is free of contaminants they could certify as fit for building on and this will mean developers will build housing which can be let to those who need a home.
Greyfield
Land that was once developed but is now underused or abandoned. Greyfield sites can include *underutilized buildings and land in towns and cities, as well as car parks, rooftops, and *vacant shopping centres.
The term was coined in the 1990s to describe the "grey area" between undeveloped greenfield sites and developed brownfield sites.
Some of these sites could be used for commercial projects and manufacturing plants.
Such as *
and the following Underused/abandoned Land which was previously developed * and some underutilized buildings could be used for housing for those on Social Housing waiting lists.
Greenfield
Land that has not been developed before, such as a new housing development in a rural area. Greenfield sites tend to be more rural, located on the fringes of cities or out in the countryside.
Greenfield could be used for Farming... to grow our own food and import less (less food Miles)Greenfield developments can face challenges such as a lower chance of sufficient infrastructure, longer commutes for workers and a higher risk of contributing to urban sprawl.
Also, Greenfield Land once it has been built on it is lost forever, and there is also the issue of flooding. This is another reason why all migrants who have come across on boats should be sent back as we can't afford to house them.
Info: Data shows that almost 1.3 million households in England are on current waiting lists for social housing, but only 236,928 new social housing lettings were available last year (2022/23). 23 Apr 2024
The Government is aiming to build 300,000 new homes??
Every year to match demand and keep housing costs affordable (Check out the link to Fact Sheet1 below-16 Jan 2024)
Demand for Housing must be met by refurbishing empty properties and using Brownfield Land to build new homes on as this may have existing infrastructure nearby and transportation links already in place, They will also have utilities already in place which will need to be checked and the new tenants can ask for the supply to be set up with Electric and Gas suppliers, to be let to legal British Citizens born in the UK, housing must not be given as a priority to migrants as many have come to the UK illegally by boats and other means.
see the link below for Facts on Social Housing who is given a home and Information on Migrants.
They Could also build Affordable homes for those who want to buy their first home by building on Brownfield/Greyfield sites. This will then mean that more housing wil be available quicker for those who are currently on housing waiting lists and would save a lot of money for the Councils who pay out for Temporary Housing in hotels etc.
It would also mean the new housing would make affordable houses available to those who want to buy a first home. More properties to Rent and Buy would also bring down the cost of Rents and Mortgages and as housing would be cheaper to Rent/Buy, this would have a positive impact on Family Finances, so they would be able to pay their bills and afford to eat healthy food without struggling as much to make ends meet every month.
2 Child Limit - Child Benefit Payment
What should have been implemented is the following:
A date should have been set but they should have allowed for the following;
Anyone who already had up to 4 children should be paid Child Benefit for those children, this is because they would have already been born before the date to Cap the Child Benefit.
And anyone who was already pregnant at the time of the Child Benefit Cap should also be included for any child born after the date the cap was implemented, for up to 1 year after, this would include any Children that were born after the Child Benefit was capped would be covered who were conceived just before the date Child Benefit was capped. Should be paid till the Child reaches 18 years of age.
As Children reach 18 years of age, the Child Benefit being paid will start to reduce.
I would reduce the cap to 2 Children for any child that was born 1 year after the date the cap was implemented, this would mean that Children who were born or conceived before the date to cap the Child Benefit would be covered.
If Parents have more than 2 children born 1 year after the cap is implemented and this is over the cap limit they will not get paid for any child over the limit that would be a choice made by the Parents to have another child, knowing that it will take them over the cap limit. The only Parents who would be exempt from the cap limit would be if a Mother found themselves pregnant with twins or triplets and this then took them over the cap limit. They should be paid for the extra children.
After providing proof of expected date of delivery and written proof they have not had any fertility treatment, to get pregnant.
But they would be expected to have a planned operation to have their tubes tied, or their Male partners undergo a vasectomy so they couldn't become pregnant again, or sign an agreement saying they understand that any children they had in the future would not be eligible for Child Benefit.
Defence Spending
Labour and Stamer need to improve our country's defence.
We need to increase our Army by recruiting and training more Soldiers.
We also need to continue UK support for Ukraine or Putin will increase pressure on the Ukrainians and may then threaten other countries and start World War 3.
I also agree that all our Veterans should be housed as a priority, they have served the Country
How many veterans live on the streets in the UK?
Research suggests that up to 3% of people sleeping rough in England are veterans. This means that around 300 to 400 veterans end up on the streets every year, and up to 4,000 require urgent support to find accommodation. Research suggests that up to 3% of people sleeping rough in England are veterans. This means that around 300 to 400 veterans end up on the streets every year, and up to 4,000 require urgent support to find accommodation.
You can get a referral to a service that supports veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The service is called Op FORTITUDE. You can refer yourself, or get a referral from: a member of the public.
Get housing and other useful information if you’re leaving or have left the armed forces go to the Citizens Advice Website link at end of this Blog,
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) defines a veteran as: “anyone who has served for at least one day in Her Majesty's Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve), or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.”
As they do the following for**
**Asylum Seekers who came over to the UK can ask for somewhere to live. If they need somewhere to live they have a choice, flat, house, hostel....
Given a Cash Allowance Usually 49.18 per person in your Household, to pay for food, clothing and toiletries.
Also various other payments Maternity, payments for Children.
Getting Back To Work
They need to help people get back to work and change their approach or it will fail.
If they are inactive due to ill health e.g waiting for treatment of their health condition, they need to make sure this is addressed and ensure that those with health conditions and disabilities get help to find the right job so that it suits their condition and needs.
Water BILLS
Labour crackdown on all the water companies includes ring fencing money for infrastructure development so it doesn't leak out into bonuses, dividends, pay increases.
Customer Panels to make sure water executives answer for their performance.
Plus compensation payments to Householders and Businesses if their Basic Services aren't up to standard. wate companies are after more than 21% hike proposed to address problems including sewage leaks. Wate firms are in a standoff with Ofwat over how much prices can rise. I think there should be no rises this year as the British Public paid for Sewage etc to be treated and not dumped in our Rivers etc When they paid their Water Bills. They should not be expected to pay twice, Ofwat should rule that the Wate Companies should be made to pay the costs themselves out of their profits.
Conclusion:
The Labour Government needs to rethink which policies they focus on at the present time.
They need to focus on helping those who cannot increase their income such as Pensioners especially as in the next few months we will be entering Winter and due to their reduced mobility and age they need to be kept warm without having the worry of whether to eat or to heat their homes. The Government should do the following instead.
Tax the big multi-national businesses who trade in this Country
Who are paying little or no taxes who can afford to pay higher taxes. Or those from other countries who avoid Permanently paying taxes.
Housing British Citizens - who are in the UK Legally
They should also focus on those who have no permanent home to live in.
Fact: In England over 100,000 families are trapped in often poor quality, insecure Temporary Accommodation whilst many more rough sleep. Thousands of families are under stress trying to find an affordable home to rent or buy.
Detain illegal migrants, deport Do not Pay them or House them ...our crime rate will go down our economy will start to improve and we can then look after the British Legal Citizens
Instead of housing Migrants who have come over to this Country in Hotels and paying them money every week per person, we need to look after British Citizens who are here legally Plus we can't afford to House this Mass Migration of Migrants who are probably low skilled.
Low-paid migrant workers are an immediate drain on the public purse, costing taxpayers more than £150,000 each by the time they hit state pension age, according to the Government's tax and spending watchdog.12 Sept 2024
Migrants will be an even bigger drain on our economy when they reach Pension Age as there will be no Government Pension and they probably won't have a Private Pension, so they will cost the Country even more as they will probably end up on Benefits.
Also we don't know anything about Migrants who have come across and are still coming in ever increasing numbers - if their are Criminals or Migrants with Illnesses that could cost the Country and increase the strain on our NHS even more. It will also put even more pressure on our already creaking infrastructure. Anyone who has committed any crime in the UK and has been granted or is waiting for Asylum or has come over on Boats or through any other method should be Deported without leave to return.
The Government needs to focus on its Legal British Citizens Not Illegal Migrants who should not have been allowed to stay even 1 day they should have been returned to France as they came over to the UK.
They will then recoup 8.3 million+ a day and save even more if they remove ALL Migrants from the UK and Shut The Borders of the UK.
Our Country will start to Recover and Prosper When the Biggest Drain On the Finances of the UK has been removed. The Health Service and more will not be under the extra pressure that having Illegal Mass Migrants in our Country is doing to the UK.
And spend the savings they have Saved by removing the Major DRAIN (Migrants) and more, on our Country's Finances & make Britain Great Again!
Look after Britains..... Children, Our Workers, Our Elderly, Improve our Health Services, Our National Security, Our Cost Of Living, Our Homes....
I will do an Updated Blog covering from the 4th of October 2024 to the 3rd of January 2025
Links below to websites to check out
Action On Empty Homes
Gov UK Fact Sheets
The Need For Homes updated 16th January 2024
Full Fact:
Are recent migrants prioritised for council housing?
11 September 2024
Get housing help if you’re leaving or have left the armed forces
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Linda Aitken-Smith
11.10.2024
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