I welcome the Labour Government’s Plan for Change, which was set out in a landmark speech by the Prime Minister earlier this week.
The Plan for Change consists of six clear milestones – covering housebuilding, the economy, the NHS, clean power, education and crime – to deliver measurable change by the end of this parliament.
The plan is underpinned by foundations of sound public finances and secure borders.
The plan sets out a blueprint for rebuilding Britain after 14 years of managed decline, and will focus on issues which impact local people every day. For example, the Plan for Change will see NHS waiting lists – which have skyrocketed to 196,969 across the local area – tackled through 40,000 additional NHS operations, as well as investment in state-of-the-art hospital equipment.
Knife crime and robbery are rife across the country, and Southampton has the highest crime rate in Hampshire; but the neighbourhood police who could prevent crimes like this and support victims disappeared under the Tories, with the number of Police Community Support Officers cut by 190 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Labour’s plans will see 13,000 more officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles and a named officer in every community.
The plan for change will also focus on improving life chances for all children by raising the number of children starting school ready to learn. As it stands, the number of children meeting key early years development targets sits at around 69.9% in the South East. A figure that Labour wants to see hit 75% by the end of the parliament.
Work on the Plan for Change is well underway, with this Labour government already delivering a number of landmark changes. These include:
● A pay boost for 3 million workers through an increase in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, benefitting 4,100 workers in Southampton.
● Funding for 40,000 additional NHS operations, as well as investment in state-of-the-art scanners and diagnostic equipment to get more patients seen on time.
● Bringing our total investment in housing supply to over £5bn, and delivering funding to transform neglected land into new homes.
● Putting police back on the beat with 13,000 more officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles and a named officer in every community through our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee in England and Wales.
● Launching Great British Energy to provide clean, secure and homegrown power.
● Kickstarted the first stage of roll out of free Breakfast Clubs for primary school children, and delivered funding for up to 300 school-based nurseries.
After 14 years of managed decline which can be felt here in Southampton, Labour’s ambitions milestones will change Southampton profoundly and for the better, as part of the Government’s decade of national renewal.
People in Southampton haven’t asked for anything radical for the past 14 years. All people have wanted is to have an NHS there when they need it, have a local police force there when they need it, have their children ready to learn at school and to feel better off with more money in their pockets.
I am confident with these milestones and the progress we have already seen, Labour in Government is determined to turn Southampton round, towards a better future for all of us and I will be working just as hard to ensure this happens for Southampton.