In the next 12 months ‘more people will begin to feel positive change’, Sir Keir Starmer told the nation in his New Year’s address. ‘We are getting Britain back on track’, he added
The Prime Minister has wished Brits a happy new year – and promised 2026 will be better. In his annual message, Sir Keir Starmer conceded “things have been tough in Britain for a while” but vowed we’re on the up.
In the next 12 months “more people will begin to feel positive change” he said, pledging families will soon see more cash in their pockets. Energy bills will drop, there will be more funding for communities and by March people will see more police on the streets, he said.
Other promises include new health hubs and frozen rail fares, prescription charges and fuel duty – with Sir Keir saying: “Decline will be reversed.” He also bigged up his party’s cuts to the cost of childcare and a boost to the minimum wage. “We are getting Britain back on track”, he added.
It would have to be a barnstormer of a message to turn around many people’s opinion of him – including former Labour voters. The past 12 months have been nothing short of bruising for the toolmaker’s son.
In December, just 18% said they had a favourable opinion of the PM – his lowest rating to date as Labour leader. Meanwhile, four times as many (72%) see the PM unfavourably, leaving him in similar territory to Boris Johnson on the day he resigned and Jeremy Corbyn during his lowest point as Labour leader in 2019.
In a message on New Year’s Eve, the Prime Minister warned that “renewal is not an overnight job” and said “the challenges we face were decades in the making”. He said: “Things have been tough in Britain for a while. For many, life is still harder than it should be.
“You long for a bit more money in your pockets, a meal out, a holiday. The chance to make a special family moment extra special.
“In 2026, the choices we’ve made will mean more people will begin to feel positive change in your bills, your communities and your health service. But even more people will feel once again a sense of hope, a belief that things can and will get better, feel that the promise of renewal can become a reality, and my Government will make it that reality.
“More police on the streets by March. Energy bills down and the number of new health hubs up in April. More funding for local communities. And with that change, decline will be reversed.”
The Prime Minister said he shared “the frustration about the pace of change” but that “putting our country back on a stable footing will become our strength.”
“We are getting Britain back on track. By staying the course, we will defeat the decline and division offered by others,” he said. “For all the times that have been tough, I hope the festive period has brought good moments.”
He added: “When Britain turns the corner with our future now in our control, the real Britain will shine through more strongly. Happy New Year!”
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