All it’s good to know on Labour’s six targets to show voters made proper selection – from NHS to crime

Keir Starmer has unveiled six tough targets so voters can hold the Labour government’s “feet to the fire” on the promise to deliver change.

In a major speech five months to the day since entering No10, the PM unveiled plans to cut hospital waits, raise living standards for all, and put more bobbies on the beat. Mr Starmer said he would get to work on his target to build 1.5million homes in England by 2029, as he declared war on Nimbys and an “alliance of naysayers”.

He pledged to fast-track decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects to produce more solar farms, roads and railway lines over the next five years. He insisted the target would send a “clear message” to those who say “‘No, Britain can’t do this, we can’t get things done in our country”. And he warned: “To those who still need to hear it – change and reform are coming”.

The PM admitted the targets outlined would be an “almighty challenge”. After 14 years of Tory rule and crumbling public services, he said: “We are starting from ground zero – waiting lists over 7 million, housing starts and permission the lowest for a decade, one in three children not ready for school at the age of five.”

Speaking at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire on Thursday, Mr Starmer also rejected claims the six targets were not ambitious enough, saying: “They are actually really risky.” Of the six “milestones” he announced, the PM said he would ensure 92% of patients waited no longer than 18 weeks for NHS treatment by the time of the next election.

This is already an official NHS target but one that has not been met in around a decade. Achieving the goal would be a “symbol of an NHS back on its feet”, the PM said.

He then vowed to deliver higher living standards by the next election, saying growth must be “felt by everyone, everywhere”. But he declined to put a specific target on living standards, saying only he wanted to see real household disposable income and GDP per capita rise in every region of the country.

He also promised a named police officer for every neighbourhood, which he said would be a “relief for millions of people scared to walk their streets”. And he set out plans so that 75% of all children in England start school with a good level of development at the age of five.

Speaking on Thursday he said: “One in three children not ready for school at the age of five. Kids in reception, who aren’t starting to read. They’re struggling to speak.” No 10 said reaching the target would help up to 45,000 children every year. But he also faced accusations of watering down his plan to deliver clean power by 2030.

The Labour election manifesto and “missions” set out almost two years ago both promised “zero-carbon electricity”. But Mr Starmer denied his promise for 95% clean power was a shift.

Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said the remaining 5% was due to the need to maintain a strategic gas reserve – as set out in the manifesto. Mr Starmer also faced tough questions on immigration – with no specific target unveiled.

General secretary of the Trades Union Congress Paul Nowak said: “After 14 years of Tory chaos and stagnation, the PM is right to prioritise putting more money into people’s pockets and providing families with the security they need. Moving away from a narrow focus on GDP to people’s real living standards is welcome and long overdue. Labour has been handed a toxic legacy by the Conservatives. But this mustn’t limit the government’s ambitions.”

Mike Brewer, interim chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, added: “Economic growth only really matters to people if it raises their living standards, so the Government is right to put this at the heart of its economic agenda. The new milestone should focus minds across Whitehall on the need to boost household incomes.”

Labour’s six new milestones

Living Standards: A promise has been made to put more money in people’s pockets and improve living standards. This milestone will be measured on whether Real Household Disposable Income per person and GDP per capita is higher by the end of the Parliament. Labour has not put a numerical target on how much it wants it to go up. And official projections already show disposable income is going to rise so there are concerns the government could claim any rise – even it is already expected – as a win.

Rebuilding Britain : Milestones have been set to build 1.5 million homes and fast-track at least 150 major infrastructure projects in England this Parliament. The ambitious promise will require a rate of housebuilding and construction not seen in over 50 years. Major projects already approved include plans for new overhead and underground cable electric lines in Essex and four new solar farms across the country. Labour will hit these milestones by ripping up planning rules and working with local leaders, housebuilders and developers to deliver investment.

NHS : A target has been set for 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from being referred to starting treatment for non-urgent health conditions. The NHS already has this target but it hasn’t been met for years. Just 58.5% were seen within 18 weeks in September. Labour’s Autumn Budget provided funding to support an extra two million operations, scans and appointments a year – 40,000 appointments a week – to reduce waiting times. Technology, including the use of the NHS App, will also be embraced to “transform patients’ experience of care” and help deliver the milestone.

Safer Streets : To deliver its long-term mission to make streets safer, a milestone has been set to deliver 13,000 additional officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles in England and Wales. A named police officer has been promised for every neighbourhood to help tackle surging knife crime, antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls. Labour’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will establish a new performance unit at the Home Office to end the postcode lottery in police standards across the country.

Children’s start in life : A target has been set for 75% of five-year-olds to be school-ready when starting reception by 2028 – up from the current 67.7%. Reception teachers are on average losing more than two hours a day helping kids who are not toilet-trained or have other social, emotional or behavioural issues. Labour will measure progress on this milestone by looking at how many kids reach a “good” level of development in the Early Years Foundation Stage assessment. The PM said a range of things are needed to improve kids’ opportunities but rejected a question from the Mirror about whether he would reconsider scrapping the two-child benefit limit after Scotland this week vowed to axe it.

Clean energy : Labour has promised to secure home-grown energy to protect billpayers having to rely on energy supplies from foreign dictators like Putin. It will measure this by ensuring it is “on track” to creating at least 95% of power through low carbon generation, such as wind or solar power by 2030. There was some confusion over whether Labour’s election pledge to achieve “zero-carbon” electricity had been watered down. But Energy Secretary Ed Miliband insisted the manifesto always said “a strategic reserve” of gas would be needed – which now has been defined as 5%.