Labour’s first year in power: Is this still a mission-driven government?

Labour fought the 2024 general election on a manifesto which promised “a new way of doing government” – one built on the concept of mission-driven government. But how much has this government’s decisions, trade-offs and policy priorities really been shaped by its five missions? And how far have they been able to make progress on their priorities in the first year?

To mark the first year of Keir Starmer becoming prime minister, the Institute for Government and the Institute for Fiscal Studies hosted a joint event to explore what progress the government has made and whether Starmer’s government is really doing things differently to its predecessors.

Are the government’s missions realistic or do they lack ambition? Have Rachel Reeves’ tax and spending choices supported or hindered mission delivery? What did the spending review reveal about the government’s priorities? How could government be better structured – and decisions made – in a way that is more mission-driven? And one year on since the general election, can the government really say it is governing in a “new way”?

To explore these questions and more, the IfG and IFS brought together an expert panel featuring:

Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and columnist at the Financial Times Helen Miller, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.