Starmer is in real danger of 'resetting' himself up to fail

When Keir Starmer unveils his “plan for change” today, he will insist he is totally committed to public sector reform.

- ANDREW GRICE

But his announcement of “measurable milestones” in six policy areas – living standards, the NHS, housebuilding, education, crime, and green energy – has already provoked an intense debate inside the cabinet.

Some ministers worry the new targets will make it harder to achieve the reforms that will be needed when the government cannot afford to throw money at the many problems in public services. They fear that chasing the new targets – to avoid headlines about them being missed – will drain so much of the government’s energy and money that it will leave little space for reform.

There is a place and a case for targets. Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, is betting the farm on them achieving better delivery of public services that will improve people’s lives. He is convinced this holds the key to seeing off the very real populist threat to Labour from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.