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Sir Keir Starmer used his first New Year’s address as British Prime Minister to promise “a year of rebuilding” for Britain in 2025, admitting: “There is still so much to do.”
In the first message of its kind in 15 years, a Labor prime minister said: Starmer announced the challenges ahead by saying his government had begun “the work of change.”
Despite a rocky start to his government, the prime minister pointed to early successes including a record increase in the minimum wage, more repatriations of foreign criminals, major investment in clean energy projects and more than £25 billion earmarked for the National Health Service.
The first months of Starmer’s premiership were marred by a row over freebies, a summer of racial unrest and an autumn budget that increased taxes by £40 billion a year.
WorkThe landslide election victory in July gave it 411 seats and almost complete control of the lower house, while the Conservative party was reduced to a hulk of just 119 MPs after 14 years in power.
But the latest Summary of opinion polls has shown that Labor is at just 27 percent, with the Tories not far behind at 25 percent and the right-wing Reform UK catching up with 22 percent.
Now Downing Street hopes it can win over a skeptical public by tackling concrete issues such as: B. cutting NHS waiting lists, building more homes and implementing more green energy schemes.
“For many people it is difficult to think about the future when you spend all your time struggling to get through the week,” Starmer said.
“So I want to make it clear. Until you can look forward and believe in the promise and prosperity of Britain again, this Government will fight for you. . . every waking hour.”
The Prime Minister is on his first holiday since the general election after postponing his short holiday following the death of his brother Nick on Boxing Day.
Starmer reiterated his key goals: 1.5 million new homes, creating a safer energy system, improving pre-school support, reducing healthcare waiting lists, reducing immigration and tackling anti-social behavior in communities.
“We will concentrate on that. A year of reconstruction. . . A nation that gets things done. No matter how hard or harsh the circumstances are,” he said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would usher in a “period of change” for her party. “This renewal process will be a long-term project,” she said in a New Year’s message. “The road may be bumpy, but the party I lead now will do things differently. Watch this space.”
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK – which won just five seats in July’s election but has since surged in the polls – used his New Year’s message to promote his values of “family, community and country” and pledged to unite Britain “to make a better place”.
Farage said he began 2024 in “semi-retirement” and had two grandchildren on the way.
However, his desire for “proper border controls”, tackling the cost of living crisis and reducing net zero climate initiatives inspired him to return to frontline politics.
“Everyone recognizes that we have really made a difference over the last six months,” he said. “We believe we can change this country 180 degrees and make Britain a much better place.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who won 72 seats in July – the party’s biggest gain in its 36-year history – called on the government to implement “real change” across everything from the NHS to health care Europe and political reforms.
Davey said he had “real hope” for 2025 but warned of “so much instability and uncertainty – all made worse by Donald Trump’s victory in November.”
