What's happened
Veterans of the last Labour government are urging Keir Starmer to prioritize a new Sure Start-style programme in the election manifesto following research showing significant academic improvements for children from low-income backgrounds. Labour's shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, outlines plans to fund key policies by cracking down on tax dodgers and 'non-doms' to support the NHS and primary school breakfast clubs.
Why it matters
The call to revive the Sure Start programme highlights its positive impact on children's academic attainment and social well-being, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Labour's proposed funding plans aim to address key policy areas and support essential services, potentially influencing the party's election campaign and future government policies.
What the papers say
The Guardian emphasizes the significant academic improvements resulting from the Sure Start programme and the call for its revival by veterans of the last Labour government. In contrast, The Independent focuses on Labour's economic plans under Rachel Reeves, highlighting a shift towards moderate tax reforms akin to Tony Blair's approach, aiming to fund essential services and promote economic growth.
How we got here
Sure Start, introduced in 1998 by the Labour government, aimed to provide holistic support for children under five in disadvantaged areas. The recent research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies underscores the programme's success in improving academic outcomes for children from low-income households. Labour's economic strategy under Rachel Reeves focuses on pursuing tax dodgers and tightening rules around 'non-doms' to fund key policies, such as supporting the NHS and breakfast clubs for primary school children.
Common question
More on these topics
-
Sure Start is a UK Government area-based initiative, announced in 1998 by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, applying primarily in England with slightly different versions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
-
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
-
The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.
-
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is an economic research institute based in London, United Kingdom, which specialises in UK taxation and public policy. It produces both academic and policy-related findings.