Dear John xxxxxx,

As someone who grew up experiencing poverty as a kid, I am proud that our Labour Government is lifting half a million children out of poverty - and that's not all our Budget is doing.

Over a decade of damage, mismanagement, and a lack of investment in our NHS has hit patients and staff alike.  

That’s why Labour took the fair choices needed at the Budget last week to protect record NHS investment - as well as tackling poverty, cutting debt, and cutting the cost of living.

Because patients deserve better care and better outcomes through an NHS that isn’t just back on its feet – but is fit for the future.

That means a modern Neighbourhood Health Service in every community. 250 new 'one stop shops' will bring healthcare workers together under one roof – and right on your doorstep. And we’re starting in the most deprived areas first to tackle some of the deep-rooted health inequalities across our country.  

But we know that investment alone won’t fix our NHS. We know that this record funding has to go hand in hand with modernisation of our NHS. That’s why the Chancellor also announced £300 million for NHS technology, boosting productivity so NHS staff can spend more time on care and less time on admin.

This Labour Government has taken great strides in getting the NHS back on its feet, with 5.2 million extra NHS appointments in our first year, and waiting lists down by over 230,000.

These measures mean we are now able to drive down waiting lists even further. Crucially, Labour is also determined to cut the cost of living, which is why I am delighted that the Chancellor has taken action to freeze prescription charges for another year – keeping charges under a tenner and putting £12 million back in patient’s pockets.

While Reform and the Conservatives would take us back to austerity, this Government is delivering on Labour values, taking the fair and necessary choices to renew Britain.

Our country cannot prosper while six million languish on waiting lists; while 4.5 million grow up in poverty, and one million young people are not in education, employment or training. The choices we have made to tackle all of these are the difference that Labour in government makes. 

Wes Streeting
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Health Secretary Wes Streeting meet staff while visiting University College Hospital after presenting the Budget 2025 to Parliament

Labour's NHS Upgrade: Record Numbers Using Online GP Access  

We said that we would fix the front door of the NHS – and Labour in power is delivering. New figures show that since making online GP access available across England in October, over 8 million patients have chosen to contact their GP online. This record figure – up more than two-thirds from last year - shows that patients are exercising their choice in how to access their GP, whether that’s online, by phone, or in person.  

This Labour government has also:

• Recruited 2,500 more GPs
• Invested an extra £1.1 billion in general practice  
• Seen patient satisfaction with GP access increase to 75%

While Reform would wreck our NHS and open up the risk of charging for GP appointments, Labour is delivering on our mandate for change, rebuilding our NHS so it is always there for you when you need it, and bringing it into the digital age.  

Care Minister, Stephen Kinnock, said:

“These figures show the NHS is modernising at pace to fit around patients’ lives. We promised to tackle the 8am scramble and make it easier for patients to access GPs – and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.”

A Budget to cut the cost of living and lift children out of poverty

Last week, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered her second Budget, setting out the fair choices that this Government is taking, a Budget grounded in Labour values.  

Labour is putting more money into people’s pockets, tackling the cost of living and lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.

• We will save families £150 on average next year, rising to £300 for many poorer households.
• Scrapping the two-child limit in Universal Credit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the next election – the largest ever reduction in a single parliament.
• Boosting the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage will increase the incomes of around 2.7 million workers.
• Freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years will save passengers hundreds of pounds a year.

In contrast, the Conservatives and Reform have pledged billions in cuts – a return to the austerity that left Britain in decline.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:  

“I can tell you today that, for every family we are keeping our promise to get energy bills down and cut the cost of living with £150 taken off the average household energy bill from April.  

“Money off bills, and in the pockets of working people. That is my choice.” 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, together with her ministerial HM Treasury team, poses outside 11 Downing Street with the red Budget Box before heading to parliament to deliver her Budget speech.

Revitalising our high streets

Labour is reversing 14 years of Tory decline and breathing new life into high streets up and down the country. Our second Budget will lower business rates and clamp down on illegal high street activity to deliver lasting change for communities. This is alongside our landmark Pride in Place programme that will revitalise our high streets.

What does this mean?  

• Labour’s £5 billion Pride in Place programme is giving people across the UK the power to revitalise their neglected high streets and restore pride in their communities.    
• Labour is introducing permanently lower business rates tax for over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties, as well as clamping down on illegal high street activity in premises like mini-marts, barbershops, vape shops, nail bars and car washes.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, said:

“When people step out of their front doors, they know their communities are struggling. They see shuttered pubs, fading high streets and their local areas in decline.  

“Yes, communities have been stretched – but they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to make things better, and we’re backing them.  

“The Government is putting power into their hands so local people decide how best to restore pride in their neighbourhoods, not us in Westminster.  

“That’s what real patriotism looks like: building up our communities and choosing renewal over division.” 

Secretary of State for Housing, Steve Reed, and Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook 

Immigration: restoring order and control

This country is an open, tolerant and generous place. Our asylum system is not working, and we do not have control of who enters our country or how they enter it. In recent years, we have all watched in horror the images of people crammed into dangerous small boats making the potentially deadly journey across the Channel. With rising hatred and division on our streets, we will never bring our country together until we restore order and rebuild trust in our asylum system.

Labour will deliver the most comprehensive reform of the asylum system in a generation by:

• Removing incentives that draw illegal migrants to Britain  
• Increasing removals of those with no right to be here  
• Creating new, capped, safe and legal routes

Key talking points:

• With Labour, net migration has fallen to its lowest level in half a decade
• Labour has already returned 50,000 people with no right to be here
• Our new package of major reforms to the asylum system will reduce arrivals, speed up removals, strengthen law enforcement, and improve support for genuine refugees.

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:  

"For those who believe that migration is part of modern Britain’s story, we must prove that it can still work, with those who come here contributing, playing their part and enriching our national life.” 
 

North Wales to lead nuclear revival under Labour

As part of the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation, Labour has confirmed that Wylfa in North Wales will host first of a kind Small Modular Reactors.

The historic decision will create 3,000 jobs for the local community, invest billions into the North Wales economy and provide enough power for three million homes.

What does this mean?  

• The investment of over £2.5 billion is the most significant industrial investment in North Wales for a generation.
• Wylfa is one of the UK’s best nuclear sites, with a proud legacy and the capacity to host a fleet of Small Modular Reactors.
• Where Tory Governments failed to build, Labour is driving ahead – delivering growth, prosperity and a proud future for Wylfa.  

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said:

“A generation of young people across North Wales will benefit from the good jobs, homes across Britain will get clean power and we will take a big step forward in meeting our ambition to create a network of small modular reactors across the UK.

“This is the government’s clean energy mission in action - driving for energy sovereignty and abundance to take back control of our energy.” 
 

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, visits the Cardiff & Vale Citizens Advice Bureau in Barry Island

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