Labour leader Keir Starmer won the 2020 leadership election on a platform to continue the Corbyn project and make it electable. So here I’m tracking how faithfully Starmer is sticking to his 10 pledges.
No.1: Economic justice
Increase income tax for the top 5% of earners, reverse the Tories’ cuts in corporation tax and clamp down on tax avoidance, particularly of large corporations. No stepping back from our core principles.
2020 rating: -0.5
July: Labour considering wealth tax, but equivocates 0
July: Not calling for tax rises, but calling for growth -0.5
September: Wrong time to raise taxes, says Starmer -0.5
September: Labour opposes corporation tax increase +0.5
October: Raising taxes on top 5% of earners is still the priority +0.5
December: Starmer calls for intervention to save Rolls Royce jobs +0.5
No.2 Social justice
Abolish Universal Credit and end the Tories’ cruel sanctions regime. Set a national goal for wellbeing to make health as important as GDP; Invest in services that help shift to a preventative approach. Stand up for universal services and defend our NHS. Support the abolition of tuition fees and invest in lifelong learning.
2020 rating: +1
April: Starmer drops UBI pilot scheme -0.5
May: Labour calls for extension of eviction ban +0.5
May: Starmer accused of failing renters in COVID-19 crisis 0
May: Labour rejects calls to cancel rent arrears -0.5
June: Starmer backs Marcus Rashford on free school meals +1
August: Labour renews call for eviction ban extension +0.5
September: Labour reaffirms support for scrapping tuition fees +0.5
September: Starmer declines to support student demands for rent/tuition refunds -1
October: Labour vows to force another vote on free school meals +0.5
November: Starmer slams government over universal credit +0.5
December: Food banks show universal credit is failing, says Labour +0.5
No.3: Climate justice
Put the Green New Deal at the heart of everything we do. There is no issue more important to our future than the climate emergency. A Clean Air Act to tackle pollution locally. Demand international action on climate rights.
2020 rating: -1
June: Starmer puts the Green New Deal up for review -0.5
July: Starmer missing in action, say Green New Deal activists 0
November: Labour abandons Green New Deal 2030 emissions target -0.5
December: Labour welcomes government’s 2030 emissions target -0.5
December: Labour reaffirms support for decarbonisation (also Guardian coverage) +0.5
No.4: Promote peace and human rights
No more illegal wars. Introduce a Prevention of Military Intervention Act and put human rights at the heart of foreign policy. Review all UK arms sales and make us a force for international peace and justice.
2020 rating: -1
April: Starmer repositions Kashmir policy -0.5
May: Starmer seeking Hindu support with change over Kashmir 0
June: Starmer reaffirms Labour support for international law on Kashmir +0.5
June: Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey over Israel, but tweets in support of Israel boycott 0
June: Labour Friends of the Forces is launched 0
September: Abstains on the overseas operations bill, sacks cabinet opposition -1
October: Starmer reprimands MP over support for Palestine -0.5
November: Labour votes against overseas operations bill (see also Guardian) +1
November: Labour welcomes £16.5 billion increase in military spending (see also LabourList) -0.5
November: Labour reiterates opposition to Israeli settlements, but opposes BDS 0
No.5: Common ownership
Public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders. Support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water; end outsourcing in our NHS, local government and justice system.
2020 rating: +0.5
September: Labour dismisses idea it will backtrack on railway renationalisation (and backs HS2 in full) +0.5
November: Starmer declines to comment on nationalisation policy -0.5
December: Labour affirms commitment to nationalisation in green policy +0.5
No.6: Defend migrants’ rights
Full voting rights for EU nationals. Defend free movement as we leave the EU. An immigration system based on compassion and dignity. End indefinite detention and call for the closure of centres such as Yarl’s Wood.
2020 rating: 0
August: Silence on migrant Channel crossings 0
September: Starmer criticises the idea of sending migrants to St Helena on cost grounds +0.5
September: “Get Brexit done,” says Starmer -0.5
October: Starmer criticises proposal to hold migrants on disused ferries +0.5
December: Silence on deporting Jamaicans (despite calls to oppose it) 0
December: Supporting the Tory Brexit deal (end of free movement) -0.5
No.7: Strengthen workers’ rights and trade unions
Work shoulder to shoulder with trade unions to stand up for working people, tackle insecure work and low pay. Repeal the Trade Union Act. Oppose Tory attacks on the right to take industrial action and the weakening of workplace rights.
2020 rating: +0.5
June: Did Starmer sack Rebecca Long-Bailey over supporting the teachers’ unions? -0.5
September: Labour calls for pay increases for care workers 0.5+
October: Starmer criticises MP raise while public sector pay freeze stays in place 0.5+
No.8: Radical devolution of power, wealth and opportunity
Push power, wealth and opportunity away from Whitehall. A federal system to devolve powers – including through regional investment banks and control over regional industrial strategy. Abolish he House of Lords – replace it with an elected chamber of regions and nations.
2020 rating: +1.5
April: Starmer says Labour will hold constitutional convention +0.5
July: Labour backs House of Lords abolition +0.5
September: Starmer refuses to rule out second Scottish independence referendum 0
December: Starmer to lay out devolution vision for Scotland +0.5
No.9: Equality
Pull down obstacles that limit opportunities and talent. We are the party of the Equal Pay Act, SureStart, BAME representation and the abolition of Section 28 – we must build on that for a new decade.
2020 rating: +2
April: Starmer apologises for Labour’s anti-Semitism +0.5
June: Starmer takes the knee for Black Lives Matter +0.5
June: Starmer pleads for calm debate on trans rights 0
June: Starmer condemns Colston statue protests -0.5
June: Starmer calls ‘defund the police’ “nonsense” -0.5
August: Starmer silent over Duffield’s remarks 0
October: Starmer defends trans rights +0.5
November: Labour vows to stand up to Islamophobia +0.5
December: Labour drafts plan to implement EHRC recommendations 1+
No.10: Effective opposition to the Tories
Forensic, effective opposition to the Tories in Parliament – linked up to our mass membership and a professional election operation. Never lose sight of the votes ‘lent’ to the Tories in 2019. Unite the party, promote pluralism and improve our culture. Robust action to eradicate the scourge of antisemitism. Maintain our collective links with the unions.
2020 rating: -3
April: Starmer pledges ‘constructive opposition’ 0
May: Starmer rejects calls to extend Brexit talks -0.5
May: Starmer pledges ‘pragmatic’ approach on COVID-19 0
July: Starmer welcomes end of lockdown -0.5
August: Starmer supports reopening schools -0.5
September: Starmer attacks government incompetence +0.5
October: Labour abstains on the ‘spycops’ bill -0.5
October: Labour abstains on COVID-19 pub curfew 0
October: Starmer calls for circuit breaker lockdown +0.5
October: Labour suspends Corbyn over EHRC comments (Starmer defends move) -0.5
November: Labour reinstates Corbyn, but withholds the whip -1
November: Labour abstains on COVID-19 tier system -0.5
Last reviewed on December 8.
Joshua White 