Assessing Keir Starmer’s Progress on Promised Reforms

Following significant electoral setbacks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is encountering pressure from within his own ranks to either resign or establish a clear schedule for stepping down. Nevertheless, in a Monday address, the Prime Minister affirmed that he accepts "responsibility for the change we promised for a stronger and fairer Britain." Back in December 2024, Starmer outlined several "measurable milestones" aimed at tracking government performance, specifically focusing on housing construction, reducing hospital wait times, and improving living standards. The central question now is how effectively his administration is meeting these objectives.

Housing Construction

The government’s objective is to construct 1.5 million "safe and decent homes" across England by the conclusion of the current Parliament in 2029. Progress is monitored by calculating net additional dwellings, which accounts for the number of new or converted homes minus those demolished. While there is no year-by-year quota, achieving the 1.5 million goal would require an average of 300,000 homes annually. Currently, Labour is delivering slightly more than 200,000 units per year.

Ministers have clarified that the pace of construction is intended to accelerate toward the 1.5 million target during the later stages of the term. However, data indicates that the current delivery rate remains lower than that of the final years of the previous Conservative administration. Furthermore, the goal faces increased difficulty due to escalating costs for building materials and higher energy prices, exacerbated by the conflict in Iran.

When are updates released? Official figures for the year ending in March will be published in November. For more immediate insights, BBC Verify’s housebuilding tracker monitors the number of new homes receiving their first Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), with these data points released approximately one month after each quarter concludes.

Hospital Waiting Times

Regarding healthcare, the pledge aims for 92% of patients in England to receive treatment within 18 weeks by the end of the Parliament. This threshold was last met in 2015. Recent data suggests some improvement: NHS statistics for February 2026 show that 62.6% of patients scheduled for procedures were seen within the 18-week window. This is an increase from the 58.8% recorded when Labour assumed power in July 2024.

The government has established an interim goal of reaching 65% by March 2026, with results due on Thursday, 14 May.

When are updates released? Waiting list data is typically released about six weeks after the end of each month. Individuals can monitor local waiting times using the provided tracker.

Living Standards

Starmer’s agenda includes a commitment to "raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom." To track this, the government relies on real household disposable income (RHDI) per person, a metric that reflects income remaining after taxes and benefits, adjusted for inflation. This indicator stagnated during the 2019–2024 Parliament, marking the first instance of no growth since the 1950–51 period, according to the Resolution Foundation.

In the first year of the current government (2024–25), RHDI per person rose significantly by 3.1%. However, forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), published in March 2026 shortly after the outbreak of the Iran war, project much slower growth: 0.1% for 2025–26 and approximately 0.5% annually for the subsequent five years.

Additionally, the government tracks GDP per head as a measure of economic health. The Office for National Statistics reported a 1.1% increase in 2025, reversing the zero growth seen in 2024.

When are updates released? RHDI statistics are published roughly three months after the end of each quarter. GDP per capita data is released approximately six weeks after the quarter ends.

Police Numbers

The pledge to "put police back on the beat" involves adding 13,000 personnel—including officers, police community support officers (PCSOs), and volunteer special constables—into neighborhood policing roles in England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. The Home Office has not provided a detailed breakdown of this figure but has stated it

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-12 07:59:13 UTC