Keir Starmer vows to ‘defeat decline and division’ in new year message

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to “overcome the decline and division presented by others” in his new year message, while insisting that people will feel “positive change” in their lives in 2026.

He acknowledged that “things have been difficult in England for some time” but said the public should now start to see improvements such as lower bills, more police on the streets and new health centres.

It has been a difficult year for the Prime Minister, who has struggled with slowing economic growth, weak poll numbers and speculation he may face leadership trouble.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said in her own new year message that 2025 sees “no growth, higher taxes and record unemployment”.

But he added that Britain was “not doomed to decline” and that his party’s plan would “support jobs and fix our economy so we can fund our armed forces, our police, our schools, our NHS and build something we can be proud of”.

Sir Keir said he shared his “frustration with the pace of change” but said “the challenges we face have been developed over decades and innovation is not an overnight job”.

He added: “By staying on this path, we will overcome the decline and division that others have suggested.”

The Prime Minister promised that things would “start to feel easier” next year, noting the freeze on rail fares, prescription charges and fuel duty, as well as increases in the minimum wage.

“The choices we make in 2026 will mean more people will begin to feel positive change in your bills, your communities, and your healthcare,” he said.

“But even more people will feel a sense of hope once again, a belief that things can and will be better, a sense that the promise of renewal can become a reality, and my government will make that a reality.”

The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK are looking forward to the local elections in May in their new year messages.

Both parties hope to make gains in polls covering the Scottish parliament and the Welsh Senedd, as well as thousands of council seats and a handful of directly elected mayors in England.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party “can win again in 2026” after our “record-breaking success” in the last local elections.

He promised to “stop Trump’s America from turning into Farage’s Britain” and “change our country for the better.”

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, whose party has been consistently ahead in national opinion polls since last spring, said his party offered “hope” and “change” and predicted May would be “the most important election set between now and the next general election”.

He said the country had become “bleaker” and “poorer”, with rising unemployment and debt “completely out of control”.

Farage criticized both Labor and the Conservatives for not understanding the “new world” of cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and digital assets, which he described as “growth technologies”.

SNP leader John Swinney said in his New Year’s message that the past year had been “difficult” for some, with “conflict and turmoil” taking place around the world.

The first minister said he would “celebrate Scotland’s famous win over Denmark” to qualify for the World Cup, while also looking forward to the competition over the summer and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.