Embattled British PM Sunak promises to tackle pressing problems facing country

Britain's beleaguered prime minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday promised to tackle the country's biggest problems, including soaring inflation and countrywide strikes, in his first major speech after taking office.

Sunak promised to turn the economy around, cut hospital waiting lists and stop migrant boats crossing the Channel before the general elections expected in 2024. He said “something has to change” in the health service and promised more choices for patients.

Sunak promised to work “night and day” to deliver on the challenges during this parliament and to create “a future that restores optimism, hope and pride in Britain.”

The government has pinned much of the blame on economic recovery from the Covid era, but critics say it is the ruling Conservatives’ incompetence and leadership instability that has left the economy in a dire state.

"I think people do accept that many of these challenges are, at least in part, the legacy of COVID and impacted by the war in Ukraine. But that's not an excuse. We need to address these problems, not just talk about them," the prime minister said.

Nurses in Britain prepare for first strike in 106 years over pay

In their biggest-ever strike action, thousands of nurses in the United Kingdom are set to stage strikes on December 15 and 20, joining other workers in the country who are taking industrial action over pay.

Labor’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the issues facing the UK were a result of Sunak's own party policies. "That's the record the Conservative Party over these last 13 years and the empty pledges that we heard from the prime minister I think just show how out of touch he really is with what's going on out there in the country at the moment."

Fuel prices, food costs, energy bills, low wages, strikes over wage grievances and inflation have all marred 2022. Does the current government have what it takes to resolve these issues in 2023? Perhaps, but not without major cost to the taxpayer.

Can Sunak fix broken Britain?

A lesser-discussed reason for a Europe-wide crisis is the ongoing Ukraine war. Britain has remained a staunch supporter of continued fighting, even upping its shipments of arms and financial support.

The war has massively increased oil and gas prices as both Russia and the West play hydrocarbon supplies as a bargaining chip.

The UK imports virtually 50 percent of its gas from other countries, and because gas is used to generate a third of the country's electricity, the rise in gas prices has also affected electricity prices.

The rapidly worsening cost-of-living crisis in Britain has turned into a harsh winter for millions of households trying to keep their energy bills down.

Experts say Britain is the worst affected country in Western Europe as it saw the annual rate of inflation at 11.1 percent in October 2022.

The prime minister has inherited a Britain in crisis. Energy prices are high, the cost of living is through the roof and millions of Brits are expected to struggle this winter.

Many challenges lie ahead for the new PM, particularly finding a way through the economic crisis. Even if Sunak finds a way to handle Britain's economic woes, questions over his ability to win an election will remain.

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