Starmer’s government failed to address scale of economic problems

The New Economics Foundation has reacted to Keir Starmer’s resignation.

Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive at the New Economics Foundation (NEF), said:

“Starmer’s government should be given credit for progress on things like workers’ rights, protections for renters and investing in the low-carbon economy, but his government has failed to fully address the scale of our economic problems.

​“Meaningfully improving people’s lives will only come when politicians stop sticking to the same economic script and actually do something bold to address cost of living pressures, restore public services and provide meaningful opportunities for young people.

​“Our next PM needs to be brave enough to challenge those who have been enriched by the status quo, while the rest of us have been forced to take on more debt to keep our economy moving. They should take immediate action through policies like a national energy guarantee, rent controls and making childcare a universal service. And at the same time, they need to rebuild the foundational parts of our economy that keep society functioning — through policies like a mass social housebuilding programme, accelerating the building of wind and solar, and renationalising key industries like water.”