In a pivotal speech set for Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will address the nation with a stark message: the path to resolving Britain’s deep-seated issues will be long and arduous. The newly elected leader, who swept into power in July, plans to offer an unvarnished assessment of the challenges ahead, warning, “things will get worse before we get better.”
Since his landslide victory, Starmer has not shied away from laying blame for the country’s dire circumstances at the feet of the previous Conservative government.He argues that their mismanagement and neglect have created a breeding ground for social unrest, including the recent wave of anti-migrant riots. These riots, sparked by the false attribution of three young girls’ deaths in northern England to an Islamist migrant, have exposed the fractures within British society—a situation Starmer has said will be addressed head-on.
Starmer’s speech will outline the extensive problems his government is inheriting, from overcrowded prisons to the beleaguered National Health Service (NHS), plagued by lengthy waiting lists. But he will caution that any meaningful change will require time.
“I said change would not happen overnight. When there is rot deep in the heart of a structure, you can’t just cover it up. You can’t tinker with it or rely on quick fixes. You have to overhaul the entire thing,” Starmer will say, Reuters reported quoting excerpts of his speech provided by his office.
This candid approach is expected to set the tone for Starmer’s premiership, one defined by transparency and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. According to excerpts from his speech provided by his office, he will emphasize the need for honesty about the difficult choices ahead. “Frankly, things will get worse before we get better,” he will state, signaling a government prepared to make tough decisions in the face of public discontent.
The Prime Minister’s warning comes on the heels of a turbulent month in British politics. Earlier this August, Starmer was forced to cancel his summer holiday to address the riots that gripped parts of the nation. The violence, which targeted Muslim and migrant communities, was a grim reminder of the societal divisions exacerbated by years of what Starmer describes as “populism and failure.”
In a pointed critique of the previous government, Starmer will argue that the rioters who took to the streets did so not just because they were angry, but because they knew the system was broken. “And those people throwing rocks, torching cars, making threats, they didn’t just know the system was broken. They were betting on it, they were gaming it, they saw the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure and they exploited them. That’s what we have inherited,” he will assert.
Despite the daunting task ahead, Starmer will appeal directly to Britain’s working people—teachers, nurses, small business owners, and firefighters—who he believes are the backbone of the nation. He will argue that his government has already begun to take the first steps towards the change that voters demanded in July. However, he will also stress the gravity of the country’s financial situation, with an expected overspend of £22 billion ($29 billion) this year, which will necessitate some unpopular measures.
Since his landslide victory, Starmer has not shied away from laying blame for the country’s dire circumstances at the feet of the previous Conservative government.He argues that their mismanagement and neglect have created a breeding ground for social unrest, including the recent wave of anti-migrant riots. These riots, sparked by the false attribution of three young girls’ deaths in northern England to an Islamist migrant, have exposed the fractures within British society—a situation Starmer has said will be addressed head-on.
Starmer’s speech will outline the extensive problems his government is inheriting, from overcrowded prisons to the beleaguered National Health Service (NHS), plagued by lengthy waiting lists. But he will caution that any meaningful change will require time.
“I said change would not happen overnight. When there is rot deep in the heart of a structure, you can’t just cover it up. You can’t tinker with it or rely on quick fixes. You have to overhaul the entire thing,” Starmer will say, Reuters reported quoting excerpts of his speech provided by his office.
This candid approach is expected to set the tone for Starmer’s premiership, one defined by transparency and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. According to excerpts from his speech provided by his office, he will emphasize the need for honesty about the difficult choices ahead. “Frankly, things will get worse before we get better,” he will state, signaling a government prepared to make tough decisions in the face of public discontent.
The Prime Minister’s warning comes on the heels of a turbulent month in British politics. Earlier this August, Starmer was forced to cancel his summer holiday to address the riots that gripped parts of the nation. The violence, which targeted Muslim and migrant communities, was a grim reminder of the societal divisions exacerbated by years of what Starmer describes as “populism and failure.”
In a pointed critique of the previous government, Starmer will argue that the rioters who took to the streets did so not just because they were angry, but because they knew the system was broken. “And those people throwing rocks, torching cars, making threats, they didn’t just know the system was broken. They were betting on it, they were gaming it, they saw the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure and they exploited them. That’s what we have inherited,” he will assert.
Despite the daunting task ahead, Starmer will appeal directly to Britain’s working people—teachers, nurses, small business owners, and firefighters—who he believes are the backbone of the nation. He will argue that his government has already begun to take the first steps towards the change that voters demanded in July. However, he will also stress the gravity of the country’s financial situation, with an expected overspend of £22 billion ($29 billion) this year, which will necessitate some unpopular measures.