2025 a chance to rediscover the great nation that we are
The UK faces a “year of rebuilding” while also “rediscovering the great nation that we are” in 2025, according to Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister used his first new year’s message since entering Downing Street to reflect on a “year of change” in 2024, although joked this did not extend to football as the England men’s team experienced “another agonisingly close shave” by losing to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
He added his Labour administration has begun the “work of change” since winning the general election in July and pointed to an increase in the minimum wage, clean energy projects and NHS investment as examples.
The 80th anniversaries of two notable moments of the Second World War – Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day – also provide a chance for the nation to “come together” in 2025, Sir Keir said.
“Fight for change”
In a video message, Sir Keir said: “I know there is still so much more to do and that for many people it’s hard to think about the future when you spend all of your time fighting to get through the week.
“So I want to be clear: until you can look forward and believe in the promise and the prosperity of Britain again, then this Government will fight for you.
“A fight for change that will define this year, next year and, indeed, every waking hour of this Government.
“We have a clear plan for change: 1.5 million new homes – restoring the dream of home ownership; children starting school, ready to learn; a more secure energy system; waiting lists cut dramatically; immigration – reduced; neighbourhood police, tackling anti-social behaviour in every community; and more cash in your pocket, wherever you live.
“That is what we will be focusing on. A year of rebuilding, but also rediscovering the great nation that we are.
“A nation that gets things done. No matter how hard or tough the circumstances.”
Reflections
Sir Keir said 2025 will offer time to “reflect on that” as he described the upcoming Second World War anniversaries as a chance to “cherish the greatest victories of this country, and the greatest generation that achieved it”.
He said: “The 8th of May and the 15th of August will both be wonderful moments, to come together and do that generation proud.
“But that victory – and indeed the peace and the prosperity that followed – all rested on that same foundation we must rebuild today.
“The security of working people. That is the purpose of this Government. The goal of our plan for change. And we will push it forward in 2025.
“So, wherever and however you’re celebrating tonight, on behalf of the Government, happy new year.
“Here’s to a year of changing Britain for the better.”
Challenges
Sir Keir faces a challenging year at home and abroad as he bids to implement his programme for government following Labour’s landslide election victory.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves used her first budget to announce tax measures designed to raise an extra £40 billion a year in the hope of investing the revenue into schools, the NHS, transport and housing.
The results of a spending review will follow this year, with Ms Reeves ordering departments to find 5% savings.
Questions remain over when the Government will meet its ambition to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy, on defence and how it will pursue its net-zero agenda.
Ministers will also hope for an improved economic outlook as they aim to deliver on the plan for growth.
Local elections in England in May will give an indication of how the public feels about Labour after its first few months in charge.
Sir Keir will also seek to reset the UK’s relationship with the European Union, continue support for Ukraine and handle the return of US President-elect Donald Trump to the White House.
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It’s retro 1945 all over again! Roll out the barrels, flags everywhere and Dame Vera on the light program singing something optimistic about Dover. Keith reborn as Clem Attlee, Rachel as Hugh Dalton, Angela as Nye Bevan – and that’s just the current top “talent”! A battle between Starmer and Farage about who can churn up the most absurd nostalgia for an era and politics neither comprehend or wish to. It’s another desperate political pageant from an already exhausted Labour party and it’s pantomime horse. But for those who like the Dam Busters on repeat it’ll be magic, as we… Read more »
the great nation (singular) – which nation would that be then?
Let me inform cardboard Conservative Keir Starmer that Wales has never not been great. We don’t need Union Flag waving Labour’s vision of a BritNat Britain that favours England Scotland & Northern Ireland with HS2 infrastructure and consequential but deny only Wales its fair share. What an insult. Now I know why they call you two tier Keir. Double standards. See, we’ve already suffered 25 years of Welsh Labour devolution dithering where they could have called for a referendum like they did in 2011 to have the devolution of powers denied. They naively assumed a Keir Starmer government would be… Read more »
Is this man and his party on some sort of hallucinogenic substance, he wants to reset the country like it was in 1945, build one and a half million houses, make everything better, more police, better NHS, more money in our pockets, he still haven’t explained where this financial “black hole” has come from as he and his party continue to spend spend spend money that we don’t apparently have, he says he and his party will spend every waking hour rebuilding the country, apart from that being a physical impossibly why has he just been on holiday? I don’t… Read more »
He really is thick as chips, as are his advisors. The UK is not a nation, it is a state. He also doesn’t appear to realise that the UK and Britain are separate entities. If he wants to talk about national revival, or this Farage-like conservative ‘back to the old days’ vision, then let him do so in his actual nation. Hence, Starmer must start to present himself as a campaigner for English nationalism and independence. But, like all the others in his party, he is scared to do so.
Like most arch-Unionists Starmer repeatedly peddles the ridiculous myth that the people of the UK constitute a so-called “nation”. For 7½ centuries the English establishment (and English law) has sought to redefine “the nation” no fewer than five times, the latest version (since 1922) being the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland. In December 2011 the United Nations declared that Wales is a country/nation in its own right which should surely be acknowledged even by Starmer. As its name confirms, the UK is a Kingdom not a country/nation. England Scotland and Wales are countries and have been for more… Read more »
Same old Tory, same old story.
This is nothing more than a rather embarrassing attempt to attract the gammon vote.