BLOG: Priorities for a new government – moving from victory to vision
A look forward by Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury.
Like all incoming prime ministers, Sir Keir Starmer will want to hit the ground running. Labour’s manifesto talked of a ‘decade of national renewal’ but he will know that people will expect to see tangible change in a short space of time. There’ll be a lot of talk about ‘the first 100 days’, and this is clearly an important time for the new government to mark a difference with what’s gone before and announce eye-catching measures that demonstrate intent and set the tone for its future programme.
We already know some of the likely early announcements: legislation on employment rights; strengthening the Office for Budget Responsibility; changing planning guidance to stimulate infrastructure investment; taking credit for England’s victory in the Euros (I made that last one up – and it may not age well!).
But not everything promised in the manifesto can happen quickly, not least because ministers will have to start dealing with an inbox of issues that can quickly throw them off course. Neither does everything need to be new. When the election was called, civil servants in every department stopped work on good ideas that still need to see the light of day, and canny ministers will know how to pick up, polish and re-present them to align with their broader political narrative.
The last government’s Green Jobs plan was literally at the printers when the balloon went up. It brings together ideas from businesses, public bodies and charities aimed at filling skills gaps in sectors such as nature, waste and energy and making good green jobs visible and accessible to a wider diversity of people. The practical recommendations it contains should inform Labour’s promised industrial strategy and learning from examples such as Groundwork’s New to Nature programme should be embedded in its plan to help more people into work.
Also being worked on behind the scenes was the ‘green in 15’ initiative – a commitment to ensure no-one is more than 15 minutes’ walk from a good green space and to tackle the barriers that prevent some people enjoying the benefits of nature. With heightened concern about children’s ability to play out and the need to find better ways of promoting physical activity and mental health, this is a commitment that needs to be kept – and turbocharged with real delivery intent. Politically speaking, parks are popular so anything that helps local authorities and other land managers protect and improve them will be well-received and a tangible sign of things getting better.
Labour has made ambitious pledges about energy efficiency. Its Warm Homes Plan promises to upgrade five million properties. It’s a strong start and sorely needed, but governments have made similar promises before and found them hard to implement. For this new plan to work, it needs to be coordinated with local authorities and include specific measures to build capacity in the supplier marketplace. Crucially, it’s not just about fitting solar panels, heat pumps and insulation but also about providing advice. Groundwork’s Green Doctors help those most vulnerable to maximise their comfort and minimise their bills, and this support and advice will be crucial for those who can’t afford a loan or will struggle to access grants.
As well as building on what’s gone before and joining the dots, the Labour Government also needs to fill the holes in its own manifesto. Conspicuous by its absence was any mention of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Community Wealth Fund or any of the other funds being deployed to support the Conservatives’ ‘levelling up’ mission. Clearly the language will change but the need to drive regeneration in neighbourhoods that feel overlooked and protect places that will be more vulnerable to the environmental and economic impacts of climate change is paramount. An early commitment to extend existing programmes and at least maintain levels of spending will give confidence to those worried about the prospect of ongoing austerity.
Given levels of turnout and vote share, the narrative is likely to be that this election was lost, not won, but the Prime Minister now has the opportunity to set out a positive and exciting vision for a fair and green future, demonstrating the value of tackling social, economic and environmental issues together – showing that reducing carbon is good for business, helping nature recover is good for our health and promoting sustainability helps address the cost of living crisis.
The voluntary sector is well placed to help the Government follow through on many of its pledges – turning ideas into practical delivery. We trust the new government will stick to its promise of working collaboratively with the sector and draw on the insight of those already active in and with communities to bring about change.
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk