All the things Labour has pledged to change now UK has new government for first time in 14 years
Keir Starmer has become the new prime minister following a Labour landslide in the general election after over a decade of Conservative rule.
Starmer received a massive majority in the House of Commons of more than 170 MPs after winning over 400 of the 650 seats up for grabs.
Following his victory against former PM, Rishi Sunak, Starmer said that 'change begins now' so, without further ado, let's get into all the things Labour has pledged to change now that the UK has a new government for the very first time in 14 years.
A major NHS investment
Under the Tories, the NHS waiting list has tripled and Starmer's government says that 'drastic action' needs to be taken to get patients seen and receiving the care they need.
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According to their manifesto, Labour will deliver two million more NHS appointments a year as well as paying staff members extra to work evenings and weekends in order to tackle the backlog.
They will also use spare capacity in private healthcare providers to clear the NHS backlog, free at the point of use, as well as recruiting 8,500 new NHS mental health staff.
"We will bring down waits for cancer appointments with a 'Fit For the Future Fund' doubling the number of state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanners in the NHS to ensure early diagnosis," Labour says.
Bring back the family doctor and improve local NHS care
They will also be bringing back the family doctor and improve local NHS care as part of its commitment to make it a 'Neighbourhood Health Service' as much as a National Health Service.
Labour adds: "Labour will cut red tape, freeing up GPs so they have more time to see patients.
"We will ensure patients can see the same GP each appointment if they choose to, and we will trial Neighbourhood Health Centres, bringing together family doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, and mental health specialists under one roof."
End hotel use for asylum seekers
Sunak previously promised to end asylum hotel use but instead the number has hit a record high, costing the British taxpayer an eye-watering £8 million a day.
"Labour’s policy to secure Britain’s borders will see the introduction of more staff to process claims and return people to safe countries, clearing the asylum backlog, and a new cross-border police unit smashing criminal people-smuggling gangs by using counter-terror style tactics," the party explains.
Greater support for victims of violence against women
Labour has pledged to halve violence against women and girls within a decade of being elected.
The party has also proposed to implement 'Raneem’s Law' - named after Raneem Oudeh, who was murdered at 22-years-old by her ex-partner Janbaz Tarin in 2018 - which is aimed at transforming the way the police handle cases of violence against women and girls.
Other pledges previously announced by the party include the introduction of specialist rape and sexual assault units in every force, domestic violence call handlers in every 999 control room, a new 'perpetrator programme' to target the 1,000 most dangerous abusers and sex offenders who pose a risk to women and fast track courts and legal advice for rape victims.
"This will mean that early opportunities for prevention and protection are not missed, and will be followed up with requiring police forces to target dangerous repeat offenders with the tactics and tools normally reserved for counter-terror and serious organised crime investigations, getting serious perpetrators off our streets," Labour says.
Make the minimum wage a genuine living wage
Labour pledges that workers will find more money in their pocket by the hour as the party will 'strengthen the minimum wage' that employers must pay to ensure it reflects the cost of living.
Close private education tax loopholes to improve schools
Private schools currently benefit from an unfair tax break that means they avoid paying VAT on fees.
So, through closing this loophole, Labour will raise vital money needed to improve standards in stretched state schools with more teachers.
"This funding will also help pay for mental health support staff in every school, working to boost the wellbeing of young people, many of whom still suffering the effects of lockdown," Labour says.
Tackle energy bills
Labour will set up Great British Energy, a new publicly owned British energy company.
The party's policy offer includes a Green Prosperity Plan to cut energy bills and creating good jobs in every region.
"A Labour government will invest in homegrown clean power, cut bills, create jobs, and give us independence from dictators like Putin, paid for in part by a proper windfall tax on oil and gas giants," it says.
Stop water bosses' bonuses
The governing party will crack down on water companies that harm the environment and pollute our rivers with 'automatic and severe' fines, as well as new powers to the regulator to block bonuses until water bosses have cleaned up the filth.
Labour adds: "For the most serious cases, Labour will allow the regulator to pursue criminal charges against water bosses."
Put passengers first and establish Great British Railways
Labour states that its plan to 'fix our railways' will benefit both passengers and the taxpayer.
"It can usher in a decade of growth, innovation and service improvement, with the railways playing their part in Britain’s national renewal," Labour explains.
It continues: "Labour will create a unified and simplified governance structure that places passengers at the heart of the goal, objectives and incentives for the railway, and to bring train operators under public ownership and control.
"Public ownership for our railways is about the practical need to deliver better services where they have failed."
Free breakfast clubs
Labour pledges to improve school attendances that includes the introduction of breakfast clubs for all primary school children in England.
The party says: "This would be the first step on the road to a modern childcare system so every child has the best start at school, and parents have more choices about work."
Topics: News, Politics, UK News, Keir Starmer, NHS, Cost of Living, Money, Health, Travel, Life, Rishi Sunak, Mental Health
The Tyla Team