Foreword
Foreword by Keir Starmer
The Labour Rosette, June 2026
Keir Starmer
The Prime Minister reflects on Labour’s first two years in government, the challenges ahead and the fight for national renewal.
“Only Labour values and Labour policies can ensure our country not only weathers these storms, but emerges stronger and fairer.”
Dear John xxxxxx,
As we approach the second anniversary of this Labour Government, there is so much to be proud of. Britain is now the fastest-growing economy in the G7 and we’ve signed our fifth major trade deal. Wages have risen every month we’ve been in power and we’ve delivered new rights for workers and renters.
Despite the conflict in Iran, inflation fell last month, showing that the foundations of our efforts to tackle the cost of living are strong.
We are delivering sound public finances alongside record investment in our public services. As a result, we’ve seen the biggest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years, and we’re lifting half a million children out of poverty.
We’ve also taken action to help with the cost of living and support families to enjoy more days out this summer. Because I know what it’s like to have to watch the pennies.
But I know people are frustrated. And I know these are not ordinary times.
I’ve learned a lot in the first two years of this job. Along the way, we made mistakes – most obviously in setting the threshold for means-testing the winter fuel payment.
We also asked a lot of the British people, particularly businesses, which now pay higher national insurance contributions.
We know now that the challenges we face require a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024. On growth, defence, Europe and energy, incremental change won’t cut it.
And while we were right to be honest that turning our country around would take time, we should have done more to show the hope at the heart of our mission.
At the same time, we face a different kind of challenge in our politics: the politics of division and easy answers.
We will rise to these challenges. And we will make the Labour case: that only Labour values and Labour policies can ensure our country not only weathers these storms, but emerges stronger and fairer.
And we will make the case that neither Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch nor Zack Polanski offers the serious leadership these times demand.
This is what we’re fighting for, and I wanted to thank you, as Labour members and supporters, for being part of that fight. We can only do it together.
Best wishes,
Keir Starmer
Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party
Delivering change
Great British Summer Savings to cut the cost of living for families
This summer, Labour is helping families have fun and enjoy more time together without having to worry about the next bill.
Through our Great British Summer Savings scheme, families will be able to enjoy meals, days out and trips together for less, while children aged 5 to 15 in England will be able to travel by bus for free this August.
We’re also helping families and motorists with the cost of getting around by extending the 5p fuel duty cut for the rest of the year.
This comes on top of support we’ve already put in place including extending Free School Meals and freezing prescription charges and rail fares.
What does this mean?
  • From 25 June to 1 September, VAT on children’s meals and children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres and concerts will be cut to 5%.
  • Families will be able to enjoy amusement parks and many other attractions for less, while children aged 5 to 15 in England will get free bus travel in August.
  • Labour is also supporting families and motorists by extending the 5p fuel duty cut for the rest of the year.
  • By the end of this year, Labour’s 5p cut on fuel duty will have saved drivers an average of £120 compared to the plans inherited by the Tories.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
 
“Whether it is a fun day out, a family meal or taking advantage of the thousands of amazing attractions across the UK, Great British Summer Savings will support families with the little treats in life while boosting business across the UK.”
Delivering change
NHS waiting times target hit as lists drop by half a million
The latest NHS statistics show that the Labour Government has hit its target to get 65% of patients treated within 18 weeks. NHS waiting lists are down by 515,000 since Labour came into office – now at their lowest in 3.5 years.
While there is more to do, Labour is rebuilding our NHS and making it fit for the future.
What does this mean?
Our plan for the NHS is working. Thanks to Labour’s record investment, modernisation and the remarkable efforts of staff across the country, the NHS has delivered:
  • 5 million extra appointments in our first year.
  • New surgical hubs to cut backlogs.
  • Tests and scans closer to home through expanded Community Diagnostic Centres.
In contrast, Nigel Farage doesn’t even believe in the NHS: he’s said again and again that he wants to replace it with an insurance-based system, opening up the risk of charging for GP appointments and operations like they do abroad.
Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said:
 
“Two years ago, the British public elected a Labour government to build on our party's legacy and build an NHS fit for the future.

Since then, we have delivered the biggest improvement in NHS waiting times for 16 years, reducing waiting lists by more than half a million since we came into office.

That's hundreds of thousands of patients getting treated faster, getting back to work, back to family life and no longer waiting in pain or uncertainty.”
Delivering change
Neighbourhood Guarantee launched to improve villages, towns and cities
Labour is empowering communities with a new Neighbourhood Guarantee that sets clear expectations around the level of public services people should see in their area.
Vital services that communities rely on – such as making sure we have safer, cleaner streets, places to meet and decent roads – will come under the Guarantee, helping to drive up standards across public services.
While Reform divide communities, Labour is empowering local areas through our landmark Pride in Place programme and a Neighbourhood Guarantee that will deliver change people can feel.
What does this mean?
  • Labour’s £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme is giving people across the UK the power and funds to restore pride in their communities.
  • Our new Neighbourhood Guarantee builds on Labour’s wider reforms, putting the future of communities back in the hands of local people.
  • Communities will be able to hold public services to account by making sure minimum standards are being met in their area.
  • We will also bring forward measures to ensure local public services are working for people not private companies.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed said:
 
“I’ve been touring the country seeing the real difference Pride in Place is making. Everywhere I’ve been, people are ambitious for their local areas – and that’s why Labour is giving communities the power and funding to shape their own future.

“Just like Pride in Place, our new Neighbourhood Guarantee is about empowering people, not politicians. It backs people’s pride in their own area to help drive up standards and deliver change that people can feel.”
Delivering change
Backing our Armed Forces
Our Armed Forces and their families play a vital role in keeping us safe at home and strong abroad. As we approach the anniversary of D-Day this weekend, and Armed Forces Day on 27 June, as on every other day, all of us in the Labour Party pay tribute to their extraordinary service.
The Tories left our Armed Forces hollowed out and underfunded, with record low levels of satisfaction with service life.
Labour is demonstrating our continued commitment to renewing the nation's contract with those that serve. Just last week, the latest Armed Forces survey showed levels of satisfaction with service life rising for the second consecutive year, alongside increased satisfaction with pay and military housing.
What is Labour doing?
  • Our Armed Forces Bill reached Committee stage in Parliament this week. This Bill will fulfil a key manifesto commitment to fully enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant in law. We are expanding the scope of the covenant to more policy areas and more public bodies, ensuring those who have served are treated fairly and face no disadvantages when accessing services.
  • This also includes a landmark new £9 billion strategy to build, renew and repair tens of thousands of military homes. Under our plans, nine out of ten forces homes will be upgraded and 100,000 more built. This is the biggest renewal of service family housing in a generation, and builds on our work to bring 36,000 homes back into public ownership.
Defence Secretary John Healey said:
 
“Labour is turning around long-term Tory decline, with our record increase in defence investment enabling better pay, better conditions and better housing for our outstanding UK Armed Forces personnel. This is the difference Labour in government can make.”
Reform Watch
Reform UK's candidate refuses to apologise for his appalling comments
Not a day goes by without yet another shameful comment from Reform’s Robert Kenyon coming to light. In the two weeks since Nigel Farage’s Makerfield candidate was selected, more and more of his past public statements and online activity has resurfaced, demonstrating why he is completely unfit to be an MP and represent the people of Makerfield.
Below are five comments made by Robert Kenyon that Reform has defended and which he has refused to apologise for:
  1. Kenyon has made backward and derogatory comments about women. He has himself admitted “I’m sexist. Sorry but I am” and claimed women can’t drive or give directions. Reform UK have shamefully dismissed some of these comments as “locker room banter”.
  2. Kenyon has claimed that women choose to have abortions for “vanity purposes”. It’s clear that if he was elected to Parliament, he’d want to strip away the vital protections in place to support women and their right to choose.
  3. Kenyon believes that Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Crimea was justified. It’s appalling yet unsurprising that Nigel Farage has again chosen a candidate who promotes Kremlin talking points and makes excuses for Putin’s unacceptable actions against Ukraine.
  4. Kenyon previously played down the seriousness of Covid-19, despite the fact that over 200,000 people in the UK died during the pandemic. He also actively encouraged people to not take life saving vaccines.
  5. And Kenyon claimed the appalling Manchester Arena bombing wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the actions of Hillary Clinton. The fault of this vile terrorist attack lies squarely with the terrorists themselves. Any responsible person seeking public office should accept that.
These are not isolated incidents. Together, they paint a deeply troubling picture of the standards Reform is willing to accept from its candidates and raise serious questions about Nigel Farage's judgement.
Time and again, Reform has shown it is incapable of meeting the standards the public expect from those seeking elected office. Robert Kenyon has refused to apologise for these appalling comments, and Nigel Farage continues to stand by him.
Makerfield deserves better than excuses, scandals and distraction. On Thursday 18 June, voters have the chance to reject Reform's politics of division and back our fantastic candidate Andy Burnham, who is focused on bringing communities together and delivering for local people.
Labour must come together to stop Kenyon getting anywhere near Parliament. Will you take action today?
The achievements highlighted in this edition of the Labour Rosette show the difference this Labour Government is making: cutting the cost of living, reducing NHS waiting lists, backing our Armed Forces, and giving communities the power to shape their own future.
These are Labour values in action – delivering security for working people, opportunity for every community, and a country that is stronger, fairer and fit for the future.
There is still much more to do. But with your support, we will continue to make the case for Labour values and deliver the national renewal Britain needs.
Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of the Labour Rosette.
Team Labour
 
Get involved
National Policy Forum submissions
It's not too late to have your say!
The National Policy Forum (NPF) consultation closes on Thursday 11 June. Members, CLPs, branches, trade unions, socialist societies and members of the public can submit their views on this year's theme of national renewal.
Or submit via email at [email protected]
 

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