So, what has a Labour Government done in a year?
The short answer is a huge amount – wages and employment are up, and NHS waiting times have fallen. Labour have been taking steps since day one to ensure that everyone in our country can benefit.
From the riots of last summer, to impending trade tariffs, the first year of a Labour Government has had many difficulties to deal with, but our Plan for Change is showcasing the investment that is to come.
The year itself started with doom and gloom, with the Government being forced to find savings to fill a £22billion black hole at the treasury thanks to the wilful neglect of the previous Conservative Government. Much like the destitute legacy of the past 14 years, the Conservatives left the country high and dry with a huge shortfall to find, as a result that led to difficult decisions early on.
However, as Labour prioritised the economy, it allowed for vital projects and plans to be launched, projects that will benefit communities right across the region.
In my constituency, the commitment of a new community hospital in Consett will benefit those in Durham greatly. The 16-bed facility will host a range of services that will allow my constituents to receive the very best care on their doorstep. Children in Moorside Primary School are benefiting from a free breakfast club, with every other primary school to follow in the coming years.
Within the region, every public transport user will benefit from a massive £1.6 billion investment into our public transport, increasing connectivity and infrastructure. Our Mayor Kim McGuinness is pushing for a bus franchising model, which will finally give local people a say on their bus routes and make our buses public transport once more.
There have also been huge numbers invested into our NHS. Investment in GP services to renovate and improve accessibility across the region, along with significant investment in mental health support for our children. The money invested has meant that waiting lists, which plagued the lives of many, have started to come down and people are finally getting the healthcare they deserve.
Nationally, we’ve brought forward key bits of infrastructure that will benefit everyone. The Employment Rights bill resets the relationship with work, with all employee’s benefiting from a better work life balance. And of course, April saw a significant increase of 6.7% in the National Minimum Wage, benefitting many workers with pay rises of up to £1,400 a year for those on the lowest incomes.
We have brought forward the Police and Crime Bill – which includes fifty new measures to cut crime and make our streets safer, representing the biggest package of measures on crime and policing for decades. Alongside greater action on ASB and violence against women & girls, I’m pleased that this Bill introduces a new offence of assaulting a retail worker, giving workers in shops up and down the country the protection they need.
Along with action now, the Comprehensive Spending Review announced by the Chancellor in June also set out how the future will look.
Huge investment in the NHS has allowed the government to present a 10-year plan, that will change the way our NHS works to help improve access and quicken diagnoses.
Housing is a priority for this Labour Government, with £39 billion being committed to a new Affordable Housing Program, the biggest cash injection into social and affordable housing in over 50 years. Alongside this, Labour have also pledged £100 million to the Transformation Fund for early interventions to prevent homelessness.
Infrastructure will once again be a priority as the Government commits to a new industrial strategy, a 10-year plan to make the UK the best country to invest in, delivering economic growth and putting more money in people’s pockets.
All of that underpins the work that the Government is doing on the international stage, opening trade links and deals that will pave the wave for growth and further investment into the UK.
What have Labour done in a year – a huge amount, however, looking ahead I’m much more excited about what is still to come, as the plan for change heads into the next stage of delivery.