By Keith Weir
LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Britain's ruling Labour party set out plans on Wednesday for the last few months before a general election due by June, seeking to reverse polls that put the Conservatives on course for a return to power.
* Many of the measures had been flagged and most analysts said they lacked the "wow factor" needed to turn a tide that looks set to sweep the centre-right Conservatives back into office in 2010 after a 13-year absence.
* Measures include plans to clamp down on bankers' pay and also to improve failing schools, make the streets safer and to allow more elderly people to live at home -- all designed to appeal to wavering voters in the middle ground.
* Critics will ask why Labour has not already delivered in a lot of these areas after three terms in office.
* There is little detail on how to fund the plans and the government will set out details of its plans to halve the huge deficit over four years in the pre-budget report on Dec. 9 -- the next big political setpiece.
* Recent data have shown that increases in unemployment have slowed and the government is forecasting the economy will start to grow around the turn of the year. Such a scenario will help to support Labour assertions that it made the right calls after the credit crisis pushed Britain deep into recession.
* Policies put the onus on the Conservatives to flesh out their own places for deficit reduction and may allow Labour to land some political blows if the opposition seeks to block them in the unelected upper house.
* Time is short to get all the draft legislation approved and many of the measures outlined in the Queen's speech are expected to feature in the Labour manifesto to be published ahead of the general election. (Editing by Jon Hemming)