Keir Starmer promises year of ‘rebuilding’ for UK in 2025

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Sir Keir Starmer used his first New Year’s message as UK prime minister to promise “a year of rebuilding” for Britain in 2025, admitting: “There is still a lot to do.”

In this first message from a Labor premier in 15 years, Starmer He indicated the challenges ahead as his administration embarked on “transformational work”.

Despite a rocky start for her government, the prime minister pointed to early achievements, including a record rise in the minimum wage, more returns of foreign nationals, major investment in clean energy projects and more than £25 billion allocated to the National Health Service.

The first months of Starmer’s premiership were overshadowed by a free row, a summer of race riots and an autumn budget that raised taxes by £40bn a year.

the laborJuly’s landslide election victory gave it 411 seats and almost total command of the House of Commons and reduced the Conservative Party to just 119 MPs after 14 years in power.

Still the latest A collection of public opinion polls Labour’s loss showed at just 27 per cent, with the Tories not far behind on 25 per cent and right-wing Reform UK closing the gap on 22 per cent.

Now, Downing Street hopes it can win over a skeptical public by delivering concrete promises such as cutting NHS waiting lists, building more homes and delivering more green energy schemes.

“It’s hard for a lot of people to think about the future when you spend all your time fighting to get through the week,” Starmer said.

“So I want to be clear. As long as you can and do believe in Britain’s promise and promise of prosperity, this Government will fight for you. . . every waking hour.”

The Prime Minister is on her first holiday since the general election, delaying her brief break following the death of her brother Nick on Boxing Day.

Starmer reiterated his central aims of 1.5 million new homes, creating a more secure energy system, improving pre-school support, reducing health waiting lists, cutting immigration and tackling anti-social behavior in communities.

“That is what we will focus on. A year of rebuilding. . . A nation that accomplishes anything. No matter how hard or difficult the situation,” he said.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK – who won just five seats in July’s election but has since risen in the polls – used his New Year’s message to uphold his values ​​of “family, community and country”, promising to make Britain a “better place”. ”

Farage said he began “semi-retirement” in 2024 with two grandchildren.

But he was motivated to return to front-line politics by his desire to “control proper borders”, tackle the livelihood crisis and reduce the net zero climate initiative.

“Everyone recognizes that we’ve made a real impact in these last six months,” he said. “We believe we can turn this country around 180 degrees and make Britain a better place.”