After four general election defeats and nearly 15 years in opposition, the Labour party seems likely to form the next government. Despite doubling down on its misguided attack ads targeting Rishi Sunak, Labour is looking forwards. Buoyed up by a big poll lead, the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, has started setting out his policy agenda in the form of five “national missions” focusing on economic growth, clean energy, the NHS, expanding opportunity and tackling crime.
The missions themselves are hard to disagree with, and relatively light on detail. But, while the rhetoric is conspicuously modest, there is reason for optimism that a Starmer government would represent a significant change of direction for the UK.
