An overhaul of workers’ rights, partial rail nationalization, a crackdown on antisocial behavior, changes to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s remit, greater devolution to city regions, automatic voter registration and House of Lords reform are all on the menu too.

Starmer stressed his determination for the measures to boost economic growth, saying in remarks ahead of the speech: “Now is the time to take the brakes off Britain.” 

Matt Upton, head of policy for the Starmer-aligned think tank Labour Together, identified two central messages in the new government’s policy platform. 

One is that “growth is the dominant mission,” according to Upton, and the other is that “this is about national renewal and long-term change — many of the things being mooted address the foundations and won’t happen overnight.”

The cautious approach leaves Starmer open to criticism that he is not acting boldly enough. Some in his party would like to see him take more progressive measures right away, with a number of MPs expected to rebel over the lack of any move to end a two-child cap on benefits for parents. 

Even those who strongly back elements of Starmer’s program, such as the shake-up of inflexible planning rules, fear he is proceeding too cautiously in key areas.