Leaked Downing Street papers reveal the strategy drawn up to save Keir Starmer’s premiership – and show that a number of the ideas proposed have been adopted by his successor Andy Burnham.
The 50-page dossier was drawn up by a small group of senior No 10 advisers in late April and marked “official sensitive”, before being circulated around parts of the civil service.
It sets out a blueprint for survival, designed to last from May through to next month’s Budget, and themed around economic, energy and national security.
While it ultimately failed, a number of the proposals in the documents, obtained by Sky News, have been announced by Andy Burnham – with possibly more to come.
The plan included:
- Reforms to capital and property taxes
- Tax incentives to grow the AI industry
- A proposed war effort on insulation and electrification.
- New bio defence labs
- Moves to tackle foreign interference in UK elections
There were also proposals for public transport discounts, of the kind the PM announced when he extended £2 bus fares within days of taking office.
He also unveiled moves to tackle dodgy high street shops and give tax and spend powers to mayors, both of which are in the document, although the latter is an issue close to the former Greater Manchester mayor’s heart.
Others, like movement on North Sea oil and gas drilling, are expected within weeks.
Of the around 50 ideas, Starmer announced around 20 before his departure and Burnham has, so far, unveiled six.
One slide says of the Starmer government: “We will make changes. Need to move from the politics of faction to the politics of project. Need to move from a politics of avoiding risk to a politics of ambitious optimism. Politics fit for the scale of the challenges.”
The Tory shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie said the documents showed “Labour know that approving Jackdaw and Rosebank [North Sea oil and gas projects] would support our energy security” and were “delaying to appease the radical left.”
Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick said: “Andy Burnham really is just Keir Starmer with a TikTok account.”
The Green party’s deputy leader Rachel Millward said: “The chancellor was onto something when he said this was a continuity government with a new leader.”
Former Tony Blair adviser John McTernan called for “a period of silence” from allies of Sir Keir Starmer.
He said: “Starmerites should just accept they are yesterday’s papers. A period of silence on their behalf would be welcome.”
He added: “This is the last document they’ve [Starmer’s allies] got to put out there to say, ‘look, he’s really the same’.
“If Andy was really the same, Labour would be stuck on 17 per cent in the polls.”
Sir Keir resigned as MP earlier this month, despite having previously said he would stay in the Commons until the next UK general election, not due until 2029
