British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his government will dedicate 2025 to "rebuilding" Britain, reports "Bloomberg". He acknowledged the scale of the challenge he faces against the backdrop of the high cost of living and the economy in crisis.
"I know there is still so much work to do and that it is difficult for many people to think about the future, the Prime Minister said in a New Year's message. As long as you can look ahead and believe again in the promise and prosperity of Britain, this government will fight for you."
Public opinion polls show high dissatisfaction with the Labour administration after less than six months in government. The party won a landslide victory in the July 4 election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. But Starmer’s first six months in office have been marred by economic and political difficulties that are likely to continue into 2025.
The economy has contracted for a second straight month, according to the latest figures, while a tax-hiking budget in late October was widely criticised by businesses as cutting jobs, investment and growth. The private sector is set to contract sharply next quarter, according to a pre-Christmas warning from the Confederation of British Industry. That has put pressure on Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to find more ways to boost economic growth.
Starmer used his New Year’s address to reiterate his pledge to reduce immigration to the UK, although the failure of successive governments to stop small boats carrying asylum seekers across the English Channel came back into focus over the festive period. More than 1,500 people have entered the country via this route since Christmas, according to Home Office figures, bringing the total for the year to more than 36,000 - the second highest on record.
Illegal migration is one factor in the rise of Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform Party in the UK, which a recent opinion poll suggests is growing in support and could threaten Labour's chances of winning a new majority at the next election in 2029. That Sunday Times poll showed Labour would lose nearly 200 seats if the election were held today.
An Ipsos poll published on December 16 found that around 61% of Britons were unhappy with Starmer, and 70% were unhappy with his government. The prime minister's personal approval rating is the lowest of any prime minister measured by Ipsos since the late 1970s.
Defending his record in office so far, Starmer said he had already secured a record increase in the minimum wage.
"Deporting foreign criminals - up 20%," the prime minister said, offering a list of his achievements. Billions of pounds worth of new clean British energy projects making our country safer. And over $31 billion invested in our NHS, starting to cut waiting lists at your local hospital.