Key Takeaways
- The UK government has set targets to deliver 1.5 million net additional homes in England by 2029, but is currently running at a rate of 200,000 homes per year.
- The government aims to have 92% of patients in England seen within 18 weeks, but currently only around 62% are being seen within this timeframe.
- The government has pledged to grow real household disposable income per person, with the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasting 0.5% growth in living standards on average per year.
- The government’s performance on these targets will be scrutinized as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces questioning from senior MPs on the House of Commons Liaison Committee.
Introduction to the Government’s Performance
The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, launched its "Plan for Change" around a year ago, outlining key targets to be met by the end of the current Parliament in 2029. With the Prime Minister set to face questioning from senior MPs on the House of Commons Liaison Committee, it is an opportune time to assess the government’s performance against its key pledges. This article will examine the government’s progress on three crucial goals: house building, healthcare, and living standards.
House Building Targets
One of the government’s key targets is to deliver 1.5 million net additional homes in England over the course of the Parliament. This would require an average of 300,000 new homes per year. However, the current rate of house building is significantly lower, with only around 200,000 new homes being built per year. Ministers have stated that they intend to increase the delivery rate in the later years of the Parliament, but the current pace is actually slower than the final years of the previous Conservative government. This raises concerns about the government’s ability to meet its ambitious target and address the country’s housing shortage.
Healthcare Performance
The government has also pledged to improve healthcare outcomes, with a specific target of ensuring that 92% of patients in England are seen within 18 weeks. Currently, only around 62% of patients are being seen within this timeframe, although there are signs of a slight improvement over the past year. The government’s target is ambitious, and achieving it will require significant improvements in the efficiency and capacity of the healthcare system. The current performance is a cause for concern, and the government will need to take decisive action to address the backlog of patients waiting for treatment.
Living Standards and Economic Growth
The government has also made a commitment to grow real household disposable income per person, which is a measure of the amount of money left over after taxes, benefits, and inflation. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the government is forecasting 0.5% growth in living standards on average per year. While this represents some progress, it would still make the current Parliament the second weakest since the 1970s in terms of living standards growth. The worst performance was under the previous Conservative government between 2019 and 2024, when living standards actually declined. The government’s target is to improve living standards, but the current forecast suggests that it will be a challenging task.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
In conclusion, the UK government’s performance against its key pledges is a mixed bag. While there are some signs of progress, particularly in terms of living standards, the government is falling short of its targets in areas such as house building and healthcare. The Prime Minister’s appearance before the House of Commons Liaison Committee will provide an opportunity for senior MPs to scrutinize the government’s performance and hold it to account for its promises. The government will need to take decisive action to address the challenges it faces and ensure that it meets its targets by the end of the Parliament in 2029. Ultimately, the government’s success or failure will have a significant impact on the lives of citizens and the overall well-being of the country.