Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

PM says UK must ‘look forward with pride and optimism’ to 2024 as election looms

31 Dec 2023 4 minute read
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Images PA

Rishi Sunak has said the UK should “look forward with pride and optimism” to 2024 in a message to the nation ahead of an election year.

The Prime Minister urged the public to focus on the promise of a “brighter future” as he highlighted an upcoming cut to national insurance as an example of change under his leadership.

Mr Sunak will call a general election in 2024, with the Tories battling to hold on to power as opinion polls suggest a healthy Labour lead.

In his New Year’s message, he said his “resolution” would be to “keep driving forward”.

Describing 2023 as a “momentous year,” he said: “Inflation is set to fall further, cutting the cost of living for everyone. And we’re not stopping there.

“We’re going further to grow our economy by reducing debt, cutting taxes, and rewarding hard work, building secure supplies of energy here at home, backing British business and delivering world class education.

“And we’re taking decisive action to stop the boats and break the business model of the criminal gangs.”

Dealt a blow

The PM has met his pledge to halve inflation this year, but another key priority, to grow the economy, was dealt a blow earlier this month by figures showing GDP fell between July and September.

And his promise to stop small boat crossings in the Channel remains under threat as the Government’s flagship Rwanda asylum policy continues to face legal and political jeopardy.

Mr Sunak’s focus on tax-cutting in his New Year message comes after the Government announced the main rate of national insurance will be cut to 10% from January 6, and amid speculation that the Tories could make more attention-grabbing pledges in the spring budget.

Reports suggest death duties or income tax could possibly be slashed as Mr Sunak tries to turn around his party’s major deficit in the polls and create policy dividing lines with Labour.

The Prime Minister thanked “our incredible armed forces and NHS staff who take care of us all”.

The message comes between strikes by junior doctors in England, with the longest walkout in NHS history due to begin on January 3.

He ended by saying: “We should look forward full of pride and optimism for what we can do together to build a brighter future for everyone.

“That’s what I’m determined to do, and I wish you all a very happy 2024.”

Fuel of change

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will use his address to make an election-oriented message, framing 2024 as the year to “give Britain its future back” – a party campaign slogan.

He will say it has also been “another tough year economically for millions of people” but that hope “is the fuel of change” and “the oxygen of a better future.”

Sir Keir, who enters the new year with his party holding a sustained poll lead over the Conservatives, will promise Labour would “renew our politics so it once again serves our country.”

In a video message due to be released on Sunday, he is expected to say: “This year, in Britain, the power to shape the future of our country will rest in your hands.

“In the Labour Party we’ve been building to this for four years.

“We’re confident we have a plan that can move our country forward.”

Sir Keir will add: “I know that politics isn’t held in particularly high regard in Britain.

“But I have spent four years bringing the Labour Party back to service, and in 2024, we can do the same for politics.

“So wherever you are, however you are celebrating: Happy New Year.

“Let’s make sure this is the year where together we get Britain’s future back.”

Deep-rooted challenges

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will centre his New Year message on an appeal to “transform the nature of British politics for good” and renew a long-held party call for electoral reform.

In a video message, he is expected to say that “neither the Conservatives or Labour are capable of tackling” the “big, deep-rooted challenges in our country” because neither will change the “broken political system” that underpins them.

Sir Ed will say: “We must do nothing less than transform the nature of British politics for good.

“Fight for a fair deal, that empowers everyone, and holds the already powerful to account.

“Smash the two-party system, reform our elections, and give everyone an equal voice, because that is the only way we can build a fairer, greener, more caring country.”


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jeff
Jeff
8 months ago

This is the PM that forgot everything about covid and lost his WhatsApp messages, and fined for breaking covid rules. The same PM that pushed eat out to die out killing thousands. Same PM that has an interest in a firm dealing with Russia and family has a thing for non dom status and green cards but only admitted when caught out. The same PM that likes to fly in helicopters a lot and cannot tap a card to pay for petrol in a car he borrow for a photo op. Same PM that had the mains supply upgraded to… Read more »

Annibendod
Annibendod
8 months ago

“We should look forward full of pride and optimism for what we can do together to build a brighter future for everyone.” Cheap, laughable platitudes. With either the Tories or The New Conservatives (formerly known as Labour) in charge, I fully expect matters to continue to get worse. The challenges we face, which for the most part are a product of the model of capitalism we’ve pursued for so long, requre radical changes so that they can be met and for us to thrive. Sadly, people choose comfort over necessity until it is too late. Charlatans speak to people’s biases… Read more »

Last edited 8 months ago by Annibendod
Valerie Matthews
Valerie Matthews
8 months ago

This man lives on another Planet! Has NO idea how it is for most people! He has never lived in the Wold most of us inhabit , cushioned by mega wealth and a feather bedded life since he was born. Fact is, we do not have to vote Tory or Labour, there are other choices, especially here in Wales. Lets get of the eternal Labour/Tory/ merry go round and try something different for once, I cannot believe it will be an worse than it is now, This Country seems to have sunk about as low as it can get under… Read more »

Jeff
Jeff
8 months ago

Ohhhh, this is interesting, Cummings sniffing around for a job in Sunaks government or Sunak asking Cummings for paid advice. Sunak said Cummings would have no part in his government when he was fighting for PM against a lettuce.

hdavies15
hdavies15
8 months ago

Horrible posturing little cant who still just about gets into kids clothes despite the fact they are too tight. He got manipulated into the PM job by an even nastier bunch of dodgy blokes lurking in the background. OK some of this is disclosed in Dorris’ book which aims to whitewash her patron saint Boris but if only a small fraction is true then we here in Wales need to get ourselves into serious secessionist mode sharpish.

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Discover more from Nation.Cymru

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading