Halfway there: 50 days into a Labour Government, which promises have been kept and what should we hold out hope for?

Labour is over halfway through its first 100 days; the next 50 days include key milestones like Labour Party Conference and the Government’s debut Budget. Below, we examine delivery on energy and environment promises and highlight what’s left to look out for as we enter the sprint period to Christmas break. 

Energy 

Having promised to launch GB Energy and introduce National Planning Policy Framework reform in the first 100 days, Labour wasted no time in making these key energy policy interventions in the first weeks of government. These were followed shortly after by the long-awaited lift of the de-facto ban on onshore wind, and the announcement of a successful Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6, but what comes next?  

Though Government introduced the requirement on private landlords to raise energy efficiency standards by 2030, we expect more to be delivered on ‘keeping energy bills down for good’.  There are key policy decisions on community benefit and consent, costs on bills, and energy market reforms in Ed Miliband’s inbox. Opposition is ready to continue its line of attack on both energy costs and community consent, particularly considering a forthcoming price cap increase, the introduction of the means tested Winter Fuel Payment and accelerated planning. Expect more action in retail energy policy to mute these attacks. 

Nature 

With climate language having taken the front seat, steps taken on nature have been more tentative. The Party never made nature specific commitments in its first 100 days but has upheld a Manifesto promise to review the Environmental Improvement Plan by the end of the year. This will include looking at nature on land and at sea. At sea, concerns are rising about whether the Government will have enough time in its legislative agenda to meet its pledge to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty by June 2025, a commitment already being met by our EU counterparts and supported across the Parties.  

Addressing the threat to nature requires engagement right across the supply chain, from the farmers and fishers to the financial organisations expected to meet stringent targets on sustainability.  It’s essential NGOs and businesses continue to communicate the urgency of the issue and work with Government to understand and accelerate the action needed.   

Water 

Water pollution continues to top the public and media agenda on the environment and sits as one of the Environment Secretary Steve Reed’s top departmental priorities. Labour never made a first 100-day commitment on the issue but the Environment Secretary has already made multiple speeches setting out plans which includes the Water (Special Measures) Bill which includes increased powers for Ofwat. Just yesterday there was a further announcement that the Government will carry out a full review into the water system and jail water company bosses that don’t cooperate with investigations.

This is alongside changes within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to allow developers to start projects before addressing nitrate and phosphate pollution. Though the ‘proof will be in the pudding’ of whether the tricky issue of addressing nutrient pollution can be addressed at catchment level post development, Natural England has at least initially said the changes are a positive step towards more efficient and strategic collaboration between Government Departments. 

However, questions remain about how additional funding and resources will be made available to the regulators to properly monitor pollution and enforce the law. Defra still has a job to do on tackling the politically thorny sources of pollution, like agriculture, and simultaneously deliver on its pledge to boost food security through supporting farmers. With a mass March for Clean Water calling for an overhaul of the water sector set to take place in London on the 26 October, a mere few days ahead of the Chancellor’s first Budget, Labour will be under pressure to act. 

Circular economy 

Steve Reed put the circular economy in the top five priorities for his department but has offered surprisingly little information on what this means. There have been positive indications the previous Government’s target to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers by October 2027 will be honoured, but this is by no means a done deal. With lessons to be taken from the scheme in Scotland where costs and business concerns have been major blockers, the Government will have to lay the ground for the private sector to adapt and prepare. 

The final round of negotiations for a  Global Plastics Treaty also fast approaching. While the UK is a member of the High Ambition Coalition, we’re yet to hear any commitments from the new Government about if it plans to join other countries in the Bridge to Busan declaration to demonstrate its commitment to end plastic pollution worldwide. 

What next 

The Government has returned to work to an ambitious in-tray marked by challenging decisions and by a shrinking grace period to confirm its priorities for protecting and restoring nature at home and internationally.  

The Party Conference season will offer an opportunity to energise a parliamentary term, but as autumn and winter heighten public concerns about the cost of living and the impact of climate change, bold action will be needed. Labour must use the momentum garnered from initial energy generation announcements to tackle the more challenging conversations in energy policy and lay out its vision for nature.