As the new government starts work, what they do in their first 100 days is often seen as a yardstick by which any new administration is judged after it takes office. We asked our writers to put forward their ideas on three things they would do in their first 100 days as prime minister.
The first 100 days: budget, NHS and PR
In the first 100 days, three things need priority attention. An emergency budget is needed, to recover money from those who have gained most from the last 14 years of Conservative government. Tax those with annual incomes over £500,000, apply windfall taxes on the fossil fuel and water companies especially and confiscate and sell the assets of all who profited from the PPE scandal.
Secondly, legislate to invest in the NHS. Voters value it and want it returning to its level of performance in 2010. That means immediate action to reduce waiting lists, increase access to GP surgeries, radically improve NHS dentistry and increase staff numbers across all areas.
Thirdly, begin an overhaul of the system of government. Close the House of Commons and find a more suitable venue. Proportional representation and votes for 16 and 17-year-olds must be established. MPs should be selected for their expertise and their work practices modernised. The House of Lords currently does a good job of holding Government to account but needs serious reform. Finally the influence of party donors and newspaper owners should be radically curbed.
Richard Hall
Rwanda, social care, mental health, climate change
I would use my first 100 days to signal the kind of country we should be.
Restore our reputation for tolerance by repealing the Rwanda Bill and putting the minimum income thresholds for migrants back to where they were before 11 April 2024.
Treat disabled people as equal citizens by implementing the UN Convention of the Rights of Disabled People into UK law, appointing a Cabinet-level Minister for the Disabled, increasing disability benefits and ordering an independent, public inquiry into the DWP’s treatment of disabled claimants.
Recognise the vital role of carers by raising the Carers Allowance by £20 a week.
Reform the Mental Health Act to strengthen people’s rights, choice and control over their treatment.
Appointing a Commissioner for Older People.
Recognise the urgency to act on climate change by returning the transition deadlines for electric cars and heat pumps to those preceding Sunak’s announcement in September 2023.
Trevor Russel
Realistic hope, sensible policies
Following years of self-serving, deliberately divisive post-truth politics in the UK, the first challenge for an incoming prime minister is to offer realistic, radical hope; that is, to manage expectations without crushing optimism.
I’d put an initial focus on policies that the majority of people could get behind, that would demonstrate legislative progress in the first 100 days, and are achievable either without scarily high funding or with substantial investment from acceptable sources.
As a bonus, these should get good media publicity and celebrity endorsement as well:
- Reducing pollution in our rivers and seas (legislation and strengthening regulators)
- Starting to tackle child poverty with free universal breakfast clubs (supporting those in existence and mapping out new ones)
- Scoping and laying the foundations for Great British Energy
“Radical optimism differs from magic or an egoism that believes something can be forced to happen just because it’s willed.” Joyce Rupp
Jenny Kartupelis
Cost of living crisis, minimum wage
I think the biggest priority for the new government should be addressing the cost of living crisis and our astronomic energy bills. Starmer said that he would create a publicly owned energy company within the first 100 days but it should happen sooner than that – by, let’s say, day 20. Once our bills have been alleviated, it’ll make lives that little bit easier.
To address further personal financial worries, I would raise the minimum wage to £15 an hour. This way, I think it’ll help with the other costs in a systemic way. With these two changes, it’ll show people I’m serious about my other promises, as well as make life a little easier in the short term after which I’d then get to the longer term stuff.
Julian Greenbank
Democratic reform, economy
For the first 100 days, in the interests of democracy and integrity, switch to a democratic voting system for general elections. Replace the House of Lords with an elected Senate representing English regions and the devolved nations. Limit MPs expenses and replace the ‘second home’ scam with purpose-built accommodation.
For increased economic justice, ensure that income from working is never taxed at a higher rate than income from owning assets. Increase the minimum wage at least to the point where the median income household is earning enough not to require benefit payments.
Stop subsidising corporations, landowners and employers: invest £2.5 billion annually in agriculture, paid for by abolishing £2.5 billion of subsidies for agriculture. (The difference between subsidies and investments is that investors get shares in return for their money).
Abolish corporate welfare and replace it with public investment. (The private sector doesn’t hand out money and not expect shares in return, why should the tax payer?)
Steve Paxton
Listen to the electorate, relieve financial burdens
Transparency. That’s the key to being a good leader. That’s what I’d want to work on in my first 100 days. I’d be honest with the public and ask them what they want, not just what I think they want because nobody has the same upbringing as the next person. Hearing lived experience is important.
I’d want to stop companies profiting from people’s suffering and offer more support for those in financial difficulties. I would also like to make education more affordable and accessible for university students as Scotland has done. I would also like to reduce public transport costs as this is a barrier to people pursuing their goals as they can’t afford to get to the places that enable them to do it. I’d also like to offer easier access to free period products. Period poverty is not something that should be allowed.
Aimee Morley
Honours system, rejoin the EU, conversion therapy, metrification
To show this will be a fresh and progressive government, the honours system should be reformed and references to the long-gone empire replaced with excellence.
The new Business Secretary will need to look urgently at the implications of a sale of the Royal Mail (now called International Distribution Systems) to an overseas investor.
A Royal Commission should be set up to look at the last government’s record regarding our withdrawal from the European Union with a view to rejoining some European institutions such as Erasmus.
Work must start immediately on banning conversion therapy and ensure the most vulnerable in our community, such as the trans community, are no longer vilified.
A new strive towards metrification should be announced and “pints of wine” laws rescinded to ensure consumer confidence.
Most importantly, the new government will need to show strong, compassionate and effective leadership in order to start to fix broken Britain and pull the country together in the first 100 days.
Bryan Manley-Greene
The environment, AI, rejoin the EU, foreign aid
There’s a climate emergency. I would ban all oil, gas and fossil fuel industry lobbying and give all companies in those fields notice their licenses to trade will end by 2035. Ban them from new areas such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and green hydrogen. All profits should be diverted to climate mitigation and compensation, especially to the countries most exposed to it. Too much time has already been wasted on false promises. I would also ban related lobbies, notably chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers, plastics, big agriculture, and e-commerce.
The AI industry would be sent back to the drawing board until they can a) reduce energy and water use and b) prove it will enhance rather than damage human opportunity. The exception will be machine learning in science which has a track record of positive change.
There would be a massive investigation into foreign interference into UK politics and elections, and I would launch negotiations with the EU on the UK becoming a member.
I would restore development aid to 0.8%, properly fund the various climate finance mechanisms to support countries suffering from climate change while not having contributed, and start to address reparations for slavery and compensation for countries affected by colonialism and other foreign interventions.
Ditch the monarchy and adopt Bowie’s Heroes as the national anthem.
Simon Ferrigno
Climate change, immigration, balanced media
For Keir Starmer’s new government, the hard work starts now. We aren’t stupid, we know things are bad, – more than bad. We know that structural change is going to take time. But the Overton window could move quite fast and quite far in the first 100 days and that alone could boost how we feel – about ourselves and about our country.
Left, centre left and progressive parties now occupy more than three quarters of the seats in our parliament. Public discourse about climate change will move away from ‘it’s a hoax and even if it isn’t, we can’t afford to do anything about it’ to ‘we all have to do something about it – what’s the best way?’
Discussion about immigration may be less about demonising foreigners and more about recognising the benefits that immigrants bring us, recognising that we need to address our own skills shortages and that we should show compassion to those fleeing unspeakable hardship and danger.
Reform UK may have won only five seats but they came second in nearly 100. There is a nagging worry that nativism is going to surge in this country. But under this parliament, it is also possible that the idea that immigration brings nothing but problems and division starts to fade. Support for Farage and his ilk could fade with it. It happened to UKIP, it can happen again.
At the very, very least, during this first hundred days, if I have to see Nigel Farage or Lee Anderson on my television, then I would like to see Carla Denyer or Liz Saville-Roberts given equal billing. Every time James Cleverly pops up, I want him to be accompanied by Layla Moran. There is now, officially, a large progressive majority in this country and it’s beyond time our media got used to it.
Anna Girolami
