UK PM Rishi Sunak’s 5 ‘big’ promises in first major speech of 2023

The 42-year-old leader has vowed to bring down the national debt, tackle inflation, fix NHS among his promises amid a tough time for UK when it is battling multiple crises.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his first major speech of this year promised to tackle the country's growing crisis, including inflation and illegal migration, as he issued a five-point list of promises for the new year. In his speech on Wednesday, Sunak, without sharing many details, said that better times were ahead. “Those are the people’s priorities. They are your government’s priorities. And we will either have achieved them or not," Sunak said, the news agency AP reported. “No trick, no ambiguity, we’re either delivering for you or we’re not. We will rebuild trust in politics through action, or not at all,” he added.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers his first major domestic speech of 2023 at Plexal, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in east London, Britain Wednesday. (REUTERS)

Promises that Rishi Sunak made:

1) Halving inflation to ease the cost-of-living crisis: Stressing that he would deliver stability, Sunak said his first priority was to “halve inflation this year to ease the cost of living and give people financial security."

2) Returning the economy to growth: The Indian-descent PM, who came to power in October after Liz Truss quit, gave assurances saying, "We will grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country”. “The country will be the judge of whether we as a government are straining every sinew to focus on their priorities and deliver meaningful progress,” Sunak said in London.

3) The 42-year-old leader also vowed to bring down the national debt so that Britain can “secure the future of public services”. The country is presently battling multiple crises. These include its crumbling National Health Service and crippling strikes over pay, a record cost-of-living squeeze in an economy, which the experts have flagged, is already in recession.

4) Fixing the NHS: Crumbling NHS remains a major headache for Sunak for which he assured that “waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly”. UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay conceded Tuesday the health service is under “massive pressure”. In hospitals across the United Kingdom, patients are being warned of long waiting times even in emergencies.

5) On illegal migration, Sunak said, “We will pass new laws to stop small boats, making sure that if you come to this country illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed.” Last year more than 45,700 people crossed the English Channel to the UK — a record high and up 60 percent compared to numbers in 2021, AP reported.

Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, which has been in power for 12 years, is lagging behind the opposition Labour Party in polls. The next general election is due to take place by the end of 2024.

(With agency inputs)