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Sir Keir’s interview with the BBC follows a major speech on Thursday, in which he set out six pledges which he says will allow voters to hold his government to account.<\/p>\n
The targets – or “milestones” – cover the economy, housebuilding, the NHS, policing, pre-school education and green energy, and are meant to be met by 2029, the likely date of the next election.<\/p>\n
Asked why he thought his popularity had fallen since July’s general election, Sir Keir told Breakfast he had chosen to take the “tough decisions” early on in his premiership. <\/p>\n
He said he knew the decisions would not always be popular but were needed “to turn the country around”. <\/p>\n
“I just don’t want to do what politicians have done in the past which is to get in the warm bath of empty promises.<\/p>\n
“I’m prepared to roll up my sleeves and tell people it’s tough – we’re going to do it but you’re going to be better off.”<\/p>\n
Asked when people would see an improvement in their finances, Sir Keir said that would be measured at the end of the parliament, but that he wanted people to “feel better off straight away”. <\/p>\n
He added that a pay rise for those on the lowest wages meant three million people were already better off as a result of the government’s actions.<\/p>\n
Writing in The Times, the prime minister expanded on his pledge to build 1.5 million new homes in England, saying he was ready <\/b>to “launch a golden era of building”.<\/p>\n
“Britain is in the grip of the worst housing crisis in living memory,” Sir Keir writes, blaming this on a planning system he says is “urgently in need of decisive reforms”.<\/p>\n
“For too long, the country has been held to ransom by the blockers and bureaucrats who have stopped the country building.”<\/p>\n
The vast majority of councils in England and Wales believe the 1.5m target is “unrealistic” and impossible to achieve, according to responses to a consultation exercise seen by the BBC.<\/p>\n
Following Sir Keir’s speech on Thursday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch <\/b>said: “The prime minister’s emergency reset confirms that Labour had 14 years in opposition and still weren’t ready for government. <\/p>\n
“Nothing concrete on immigration – because Labour have no plan to control numbers.” <\/p>\n
The prime minister has said he wants to reduce migration levels, but his six pledges did not include a measurable target. <\/p>\n
Sir Keir told BBC Breakfast that trying to put a “hard cap” on migration numbers had not worked in the past. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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