Britain enters 2023 with many issues still unresolved

As we welcome another year, the issues facing the country have an awfully familiar ring to them.

More strikes take place this week, with little sign of a resolution in the immediate short term and the potential for anti-strike legislation a little further down the line. The current state of the NHS – as we laid out on Sunday – is another important issue that will loom large this year, particularly as both the Conservatives and opposition parties, chiefly Labour, begin to set out their stall for an election pitch in 2024.

The still-rising number of small boats coming across the Channel will be another issue over which we will hear plenty of political rhetoric.

Inflation is expected by analysts to fall some during the next 12 months, as the economic shock caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine keeps working its way through the system, but the cost of living crisis will not just disappear – and unemployment is forecast to rise as lower spending and higher costs force businesses to take a hard look at staffing levels. Given the economy is struggling to reach pre-Covid levels, expect plenty of political noise about the need for growth in the weeks ahead and close scrutiny of chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Budget in March.

When it comes to Ukraine, the UK has made clear its commitment to supporting Kyiv and president Volodymyr Zelensky as Moscow’s invasion approaches the 12-month mark. Mr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin have both traded barbs in their Christmas and new year messages as missiles have rained down on Ukrainian cities – including more airstrikes on New Year’s Day – and heavy fighting has continued in a number of areas.

Given the current situation on the frontlines, and the statements from both sides about what they would require to begin peace talks, any kind of resolution seems a distance away.

Across the UK, the voting public will be waiting to see how the Conservatives deal with this multitude of issues. Damage limitation for the party’s reputation will not be enough without clear action. The Conservatives cannot afford to get waylaid by infighting and rebellions or dither too much with repeated U-turns. Although, acting rashly – as Rishi Sunak’s brief predecessor Liz Truss proved – would also be ill-advised. Such is the difficult task of being in power.

For Sir Keir Starmer and Labour, the challenge will be to lay out a clear vision for how the party would tackle the problems the country faces. Merely waiting for mistakes from Mr Sunak and his party, without setting out what would make Labour a compelling alternative, will not be enough. A current significant lead in the polls is not a cast-iron guarantee of success.

Both Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer will want to put their parties on the front foot this year, as we move towards a general election beyond that. Both will need to ensure their parties have a clear vision and act accordingly and with purpose.