Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a resolute pledge that there will be "no let-up" in the government's efforts to support British families struggling with the cost of living, declaring that 2026 will be the year the public feels "real change."
A Year of Tangible Change
In a direct message to voters, the Prime Minister asserted that the actions taken by his administration will become palpably felt in daily life throughout the coming year. He promised to deploy "every tool" at the government's disposal to improve living standards and ease financial pressures.
This commitment was reinforced during the first Cabinet meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, where Starmer instructed ministers to intensify their focus on tackling the ongoing crisis. "I know families across the country are still worried about the cost of living," he stated. "There will be no let-up in our fight to make life better for them."
Chancellor Points to Economic Progress
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has robustly defended the government's economic strategy, highlighting that it defied pessimistic forecasts in 2025. She expressed determination to repeat that success in 2026.
In an interview with The Sunday Mirror, Reeves outlined the government's record: six interest rate cuts since taking office, falling inflation, and mortgage costs at their lowest since the 2022 mini-budget. She also noted that wages have risen faster than inflation and millions benefited from increases to the national living wage.
"We promised change and we are delivering change," the Chancellor said. "But I know there is more to do. The cost of living is still bearing down on families... We defied the forecasts last year and I am determined we do so again."
Concrete Measures for Commuters and Families
Next week, the Prime Minister will meet with commuters to discuss support for passengers, following a landmark policy achievement: the first freeze in rail fares in over 30 years.
In his pledge, Starmer listed specific government interventions designed to put money back in people's pockets:
- Cutting energy bills by an average of £150.
- Raising the National Living Wage.
- Freezing rail fares and capping bus fares.
- Extending the fuel duty cut until at least September 2026.
"This is real change that you will be able to feel day in day out," Starmer told families. "Britain is turning the corner and 2026 is the year more people will feel renewal becoming reality."
Government sources argue that Labour's economic plan is demonstrably working, creating a foundation for the tangible improvements promised for the year ahead. The central message from Downing Street is one of relentless focus, with the Prime Minister vowing that the mission to improve British living standards will see no respite.
