Two years after Labour's historic election victory, the ledger of delivery is more complicated than either the government's supporters or critics acknowledge.
What Has Been Delivered
NHS: Significant additional funding and a workforce plan. Waiting lists are beginning to fall from their peaks, though remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
Clean Energy: Significant progress on offshore wind licensing and the Great British Energy company establishment. On track for the 2030 clean power target.
Employment Rights: Workers Rights Act has delivered on key manifesto commitments: day one rights, restrictions on zero-hours contracts, trade union reform.
Where Expectations Have Been Disappointed
Economic growth: GDP growth has been lower than projected, partly due to the global environment and partly due to the impact of the employer NI increase.
Planning reform: Progress on house building targets has been slower than promised. Planning reform legislation is working through parliament.
Public services: Day-to-day experience in GP surgeries and HMRC contact centres remains poor despite investment commitments.
The Verdict
Labour has governed more competently than its critics predicted but more cautiously than its supporters hoped. The genuine record of delivery is obscured by a communication strategy that has often been defensive rather than confident.
