Matthew Patrick, MP for Wirral West, has welcomed the Labour Government’s Plan for Change, set out in a landmark speech by the Prime Minister yesterday (5 December).
The Plan for Change consists of six clear milestones – covering the economy, the NHS, clean power, education, crime and housing – to deliver measurable change by the end of this parliament. The plan is underpinned by foundations of sound public finances and secure borders.
The plan sets out a blueprint for rebuilding Britain after 14 years of managed decline under the Tories and will focus on issues which impact the everyday lives of people on the Wirral.
For example, the Plan for Change will see NHS waiting lists – which have skyrocketed to 369,065 across Cheshire and Merseyside – tackled through 40,000 additional NHS operations and investment in state-of-the-art hospital equipment. Labour has set the target of 92% of NHS patients to receive treatment within 18 weeks. After 14 years of Tory government, this figure currently stands at just 59%.
Knife crime and robbery are rife across the country, but the neighbourhood police who could prevent crimes like this and support victims disappeared under the Tories, with the number of Police Community Support Officers cut by 276 in Merseyside. Labour’s plans will see 13,000 more officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles and a named officer in every community.
It will also focus on improving life chances for all children by raising the number of children starting school ready to learn. As it stands, the number of children meeting key early years development targets sits at around 64% in the North West, a figure Labour wants to see hit 75% by the end of the parliament.
Work on the Plan for Change is well underway, with this Labour government already delivering a number of landmark changes. These include:
- A pay boost for 3 million workers through an increase in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, benefitting 7700 on the Wirral.
- Funding for 40,000 additional NHS operations, as well as investment in state-of-the-art scanners and diagnostic equipment to get more patients seen on time.
- Bringing our total investment in housing supply to over £5bn, and delivering funding to transform neglected land into new homes.
- Putting police back on the beat with 13,000 more officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles and a named officer in every community through our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee in England and Wales.
- Launching Great British Energy to provide clean, secure and homegrown power.
- Kickstarted the first stage of roll out of free Breakfast Clubs for primary school children, and delivered funding for up to 300 school-based nurseries.
Commenting on the Plan for Change, Matthew Patrick MP said:
“After 14 years of chaos and broken promises under the Tories, Labour was elected to deliver change.
“In the conversations I have with people across Wirral West, time and again people raise the need to fix our NHS, get police back out on the beat, and invest in the futures of our children and young people.”
“The Prime Minister’s announcement of these ambitious but achievable milestones shows this is a government serious about making a difference in people’s lives.”
Matthew Patrick MP 