Last week marked one year since the general election that brought Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party back into government after 14 years in opposition. Daniel Mumby, local democracy reporter, reflects on Labour’s first year in office and evaluates how Somerset has fared under the new administration.
On the morning of July 5, 2024, I made several predictions about the newly-elected Labour government’s trajectory. Somerset, traditionally not a Labour stronghold, greeted the results with cautious relief rather than celebration. The Liberal Democrats managed to reclaim much of the southwest from the Conservatives, leaving Bridgwater as the only Conservative stronghold.
My predictions were clear: Labour would face serious pressure if it failed to deliver meaningful change, the government must not overlook rural areas, and the next five years promised to be anything but dull. A year later, these forecasts have largely proven accurate.
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Labour currently struggles in the polls, hampered by a series of missteps and a growing sense among voters that promised changes have either fallen short or been too slow to materialize. Policies such as the winter fuel allowance, modifications to inheritance tax, increased employer national insurance contributions, and benefit reforms illustrate this struggle. While aimed at fairness and economic sustainability, the execution has created controversy.
For example, the rapid reversal of the winter fuel allowance policy, a key initiative supported across Parliament, portrayed the government as inflexible and uncaring. Similarly, proposed inheritance tax changes sparked concern, particularly among Somerset’s marginal farming communities, as the government overlooked the local impact of closing loopholes benefiting the super-rich.
Labour’s efforts to protect workers’ rights while encouraging employment have sometimes backfired, making hiring more difficult and putting vulnerable populations at risk. These challenges underline the complexity of managing economic reform during a period marked by austerity, Brexit, the pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and the Tory mini-budget fiasco.
Although sweeping reforms are needed after such turbulent years, the government’s failure to attend to critical details continues to undermine progress. One misstep after another has emerged in areas like planning reform and the NHS’s ten-year plan, including delays to adult social care reviews.
Despite these setbacks, the government has achieved notable successes in Somerset. The controversial delay before confirming funding for new railway stations in Wellington and Cullompton caused frustration, but ultimately the approval represents a significant investment that promises new jobs, better educational opportunities, and sustainable transport options.
Similarly, although improvements to Musgrove Park Hospital have been postponed until 2033, the assured funding prevents the kind of empty promises that characterized the previous Conservative government. The £3 bus fare cap, though higher than some hoped, has guaranteed funding for affordable public transport, providing a stable environment for users and businesses alike.
Somerset benefits from committed MPs tirelessly advocating for local interests. The Liberal Democrats have gained attention for their efforts on free school meals and maternity services, especially amid the temporary closure of Yeovil Hospital’s special care baby unit. Meanwhile, Sir Ashley Fox has worked to secure a replacement school in Bridgwater and protect local businesses during prolonged roadworks.
If Starmer’s government campaign was about “fixing the foundations,” the first year has been a rocky one, marred by setbacks but laying groundwork for future change. The transformation of the country’s fortunes was never going to be swift or straightforward. Achieving meaningful progress that benefits everyone demands patience as well as careful navigating of intricate regional realities that Westminster often overlooks.
The impatience of voters, coupled with Labour’s missteps, has created an opening for Reform and Nigel Farage’s faction to gain influence — offering grand promises without credible plans. The recent spending review lays out a clearer path forward, committing funds to health services, schools, and transport infrastructure improvements.
In Somerset, green shoots of progress are visible beneath the government’s stumbles. Now, the challenge is for Labour to deliver effective change that truly serves the county’s diverse communities and respects the subtleties of West Country life.
The past year may have been tough, but the real work starts now.