Labour’s Landslide Victory – The NRI Call For Government Commitments

And so it was, an unbelievable landslide victory for the labour party, at least in terms of sheer number of seats gained. The real victory has been achieved by parties such as the Greens, Lib Dems, and worryingly, Reform UK, who have all seen comparatively explosive numbers compared to previous elections.

With a Parliamentary majority of almost 100, anything that Labour say, will now go, for the next 5 years. Compared to the 14 years of Tory rule, this will hopefully be a welcome break, and with cabinet appointments including superstars like James Timpson OBE as Prisons Minister, Richard Hermer KC as Attorney General, and Sir Patrick Vallance KCB as the Science Minister, there is hope  that this Government is truly setting itself up to be a voice for the people and the causes that matter to the future of society.

However, a party with such a majority has an unlimited mandate, it has the ability to pass and repeal any law which it sees fit. With Ivor Jennings QC famously noting that the UK Parliament could pass a law banning smoking on the streets of France, and this would be perfectly enforceable within the confines of the UK.

Whilst this power allows for a government to effectively govern, it also allows for extremely regressive laws to be passed. In the past 14 years we have seen awful enactments curtailing free speech, restricting the right to protest, and regressive anti-immigration policy becoming the norm.

With a former human rights lawyer and head of the DPP as the current prime minister, we are hopeful for this government, but we have been severely disappointed in many hopeful candidates in history. Only time will tell whether the country has been right to put its trust in Starmer, but for now, we call on this government to commit to the following:

1. Repeal the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024 and cancel all policy and plans related to the Rwanda scheme and refuse to engage in any element of the Hostile Environment policy.
   
2. Repeal the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 and commit to protecting the right to protest and freedom of expression.
   
3. Repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and the Trade Union Act 2016 and introduce a new Workers and Unions Protection Bill to strengthen the rights of unions and bring collective bargaining back to its former strength.
   
4. Immediately call for a ceasefire in Gaza and begin work on the global stage to bring a lasting and concrete solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
   
5. Bring the funding of the Criminal Justice System up to necessary levels; appoint new judges to the bench and reopen closed courtrooms in a bid to reverse the backlog of criminal cases – commit to increasing legal aid fees.
   
6. Introduce a Children’s Rights Bill aimed at protecting those youngest and most vulnerable in society – respecting the right to health (including banning vapes and smoking) the right to education (including nursery) and the right to safety and security (including returning Sure Start centres to full strength).
   
7. Review the social security system and make it fit for purpose and a real safety net.
   
8.  Introduce realistic policies to deal with the crisis in higher education, make university more accessible for those who otherwise struggle to access it and remove the implicit requirement for an undergraduate degree for jobs which should not require it.
   
9. Tackle the rough sleeping and homeless crisis. Commit to increasing the number of social housing to a level that reflects the number of rough sleepers, reduce the need for food banks, and increase the minimum wage such that it is able to sustain a family.
   
10. Address the waiting times and staffing issues in the NHS, agree a real wage increase deal with doctors, nurses and support staff, commit to building new hospitals and address the deficits in the mental health  system.

This new era presents an opportunity for transformative progress. Let us hold the government accountable and support them in creating a future that is equitable, just, and prosperous for all. Stay tuned, stay involved, and let us collectively work towards a better tomorrow.

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