THE Labour Government has said it will work in Scottish policy areas whether they are “devolved or not”.
In the wake of Keir Starmer’s keynote speech where he outlined "six milestones" in a “plan for change” – which seem to have replaced the “five missions” from the Labour General Election manifesto – the UK Government said it would also be working on delivering in the devolved nations.
In a release issued to press, the Labour Government said: “The message is clear – devolved or not [italics in original] – we will collectively make a difference across the UK sharing best practice and aligning efforts across every level of government, business and with civil society.”
The UK Government said that its pledge to work in devolved areas was part of a “genuine partnership with devolved governments on shared priorities of working people”.
Labour mentioned policing, health, and “giving children the best start in life” as specific areas in which they would work, given that these are devolved but also fall under Starmer's new list of "milestones".
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “People in Scotland voted for change and that is what we will deliver. We will boost the pride and potential of every part of the United Kingdom.
“Our plan for change starts by fixing the foundations of our economy. Our mission for growth will bring investment and reform, improving living standards for working people. It will be the foundation from which our public services missions will flow.
“Our mission for green energy will see Great British Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, help achieve clean energy by 2030, while also creating skilled jobs for Scottish workers.
“We have reset the relationship with the Scottish Government and will work constructively with partners to deliver the change we promised, for the whole United Kingdom.”
Labour's "six milestones" are:
- Higher disposable income per person
- 1.5 million new homes in England
- 92% of patients in England waiting 18 weeks or less for elective treatment
- 13,000 new police officers
- Getting 75% of five-year-olds in England “ready to learn” when they start school
- 95% clean power by 2030
Prime Minister Starmer said: “This Government was elected to deliver real change for working people – and that is exactly what we are doing.
“We have already stabilised the economy, secured an extra £26 billion for the NHS and launched a Border Security Command to tackle illegal migration.
“Faced with a dire inheritance, we know that we cannot deliver our Plan for Change alone. Mission-led government means doing things differently, and a decade of national renewal will require the skills and determination of us all.”
