Weekly Update
The number one priority of this Labour Government is to kickstart economic growth—because without growth, we cannot fix our public services, invest in infrastructure, or improve living standards.
Our Plan for Growth is built on three pillars: stability, investment, and reform. The Autumn Budget laid the foundations by restoring economic stability and prioritising long-term investment. But we know we must go further and faster.
Without economic growth, we can’t cut hospital waiting lists, put more police on our streets, meet our climate targets, or create the opportunities the next generation deserves.
That’s why the Chancellor’s latest announcements mark the next phase of our plan, showing this Government’s determination to make the tough but necessary decisions to drive growth in the national interest.
We are tearing down the barriers that have held Britain back for too long. We will back the builders, not the blockers—a stark contrast to 14 years of Conservative failure. Their legacy is one of stagnant incomes, crumbling hospitals and schools, and businesses taking their investments elsewhere.
Our Plan for Change will reverse this decline:
✅ More jobs
✅ More money in people’s pockets
✅ A rebuilt Britain
✅ An NHS fit for the future
Cleaning Up the Tory Sewage Scandal – The Water Bill
This week saw the third reading of the Water (Special Measures) Bill, as we take urgent steps to fix the mess left behind after 14 years of Tory neglect.
We inherited a water system in crisis—bursting pipes, record sewage pollution, and a regulator left powerless after Conservative governments slashed the Environment Agency’s budget in half since 2010. The result? Record levels of illegal sewage dumping into our rivers, lakes, and seas.
The previous Tory government even tried to cover up the scale of the crisis before the election. Their Water Minister, Robbie Moore, instructed officials not to put key figures on the front page of an official report, hiding the truth from the public.
Let’s be clear, this is a scandal. Since privatisation, only three individuals have faced criminal prosecution for illegal sewage dumping, while water executives have pocketed £41 million in bonuses since 2020. Meanwhile, customers are left paying the price—higher bills for worsening services.
That ends now, Labour is taking action where the Tories failed—because clean water is a right, not a luxury.
Under this Labour Government:
🚨 Funding for infrastructure upgrades will be ringfenced—no more diverting money to shareholder dividends and executive bonuses.
🚨 We are banning bonuses for polluting water bosses and introducing criminal liability for those responsible.
🚨 We are launching the biggest-ever Commission into the sector to accelerate investment and clean up our waterways for good.
Restoring Fiscal Responsibility – The Charter for Budget Responsibility
This week, Parliament debated Motions relating to the Charter for Budget Responsibility—a key step in fixing Britain’s economy and ensuring sustainable growth.
The fiscal framework set out in the Budget puts public finances on a sustainable path while prioritising investment in our future. This is how we rebuild public services and ensure higher living standards for all.
The contrast with the previous government could not be clearer. We all saw the consequences when Liz Truss ignored independent scrutiny and pushed through her disastrous mini-budget—crashing the economy and sending mortgage rates soaring.
We all felt the damage caused by 14 years of Tory mismanagement, leaving us with:
❌ A £22 billion hole in the public finances
❌ Sluggish growth and stagnant wages
❌ Crumbling public services after years of underinvestment
Our new Charter for Budget Responsibility ensures stability and transparency—with a stronger role for the OBR to hold the Government to account. This is the responsible path to sustainable growth and economic renewal.
Remembering the Holocaust
Monday marked Holocaust Memorial Day, commemorating 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. It was an honour to attend Enfield Council’s moving tribute to the six million Jewish men, women, and children murdered in the Holocaust, alongside the victims of genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
These dark chapters of history serve as a powerful reminder of why we must never be complacent in the fight against antisemitism, racism, and hatred in all forms. The lessons of the past must drive us to build a more just, tolerant, and compassionate future.
Investing in the NHS – Visit to Royal Free Hospital
This week, I visited Royal Free Hospital to see first-hand the incredible work being done in cancer care.
With the recent merger of North Middlesex Hospital with Royal Free Hospital Group, it is vital that we invest in the NHS to ensure world-class treatment for all patients.
Labour is committed to building an NHS fit for the future—one that has:
🏥 The staff it needs
🏥 Cutting-edge technology
🏥 Better resources and infrastructure
🏥 A 10-year plan to modernise cancer care
We must harness the power of technology to diagnose and treat cancer earlier, giving every patient the best possible chance. The work being done at Royal Free shows what is possible—Labour will ensure this level of care is available for all.
After 14 years of failure, this Labour Government is getting Britain back on track.
We are delivering economic growth, rebuilding our NHS, cleaning up the environment, and restoring trust in public services.
The work has only just begun—but with Labour in power, real change is finally here
Mansion House Speech
This week, I spoke at Mansion House on the role AI can play in driving economic growth and ensuring opportunity reaches everyone. I reflected on my early days in Shoreditch and Hoxton, where I saw firsthand the contrast between a booming financial and tech sector and communities struggling with limited opportunities. AI has the potential to transform industries, adding billions to financial services and boosting productivity across the economy. The UK is already a global leader in AI, and the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan will accelerate this further by expanding computing power, unlocking public data, and strengthening our talent pipeline. At the AI Action Summit, we will showcase why the UK is the best place to develop, invest in, and adopt AI.
But opportunity must go hand in hand with safety, and that’s why AI safety is a core priority. If we get this right, we build investor confidence, give businesses the clarity to innovate, and bring the public with us. The AI Safety Institute will be central to this effort, ensuring responsible development. Beyond that, we must make AI-driven growth inclusive. Through initiatives like Skills England, we will equip young people and workers with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-powered world. This is the future I want for the UK—one where AI drives economic success, where safety supports innovation, and where no one is left behind.
