Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has used his new year message to vow that his government will "defeat the decline and division offered by others" by steadfastly continuing its programme for Britain.
A Pledge of Hope Amid Ongoing Hardship
In a broadcast on New Year's Eve, 2025, Sir Keir acknowledged that life remains "harder than it should be" for many citizens, with people longing for more financial security and simple pleasures. However, he insisted that the choices made by his Labour administration would soon translate into tangible improvements.
"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," the Prime Minister stated. He pointed to forthcoming cuts to energy bills in April, alongside a freeze on rail fares and prescription charges, as evidence of this shift.
Conceding public "frustration about the pace of change," Sir Keir argued that renewal was not an "overnight job," citing challenges that were "decades in the making." His core promise was that by "staying the course," more people would regain "a sense of hope" and a belief that renewal could become a reality.
Opposition Leaders Strike Contrasting Notes
The Prime Minister's message of determined continuity comes after a turbulent year marked by sluggish economic growth and difficult poll ratings ahead of local elections in May 2026. In response, opposition leaders framed their own new year addresses.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch struck a note of optimism while directly criticising the government's record. She described 2025 as a year of "no growth, higher taxes and record unemployment," blaming Labour's policies. "Don’t let the politics of grievance tell you that we’re destined to stay the same," she urged, promising her party was developing a policy programme to "get Britain working again."
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey focused on the upcoming electoral battles, expressing hope for victories in the Cardiff Bay, Holyrood, and English council polls in May. He framed these contests as a chance to "stop Trump’s America becoming Farage’s Britain."
Farage Sets Sights on Systemic Change
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, used his message to make a bold pitch for the next general election. He claimed that if his party succeeded on May 7, 2026, it would have the chance to "fundamentally chang[e] the whole system of government in Britain."
This confidence follows a significant year for Reform UK, which secured 677 council seats in the May 2025 local elections, gaining control of 10 councils. The party also won the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election from Labour in May, albeit with a tiny majority of six votes.
Sir Keir concluded his message by expressing a hope that the festive period had brought good moments despite tough times, adding: "When Britain turns the corner with our future now in our control, the real Britain will shine through more strongly."
