Last week we saw Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set out his five immediate priorities for the year ahead. I welcome what he set out as well as making it clear he will be accountable and judged on the outcomes of these.
2022 was a tough year with high inflation affecting both us and the world for the first time in forty years or so. We’ve all seen the implications this has had across the board, so it is vital to get inflation falling and aiming for the low level of the Bank of England 2% target. The Prime Minister’s first pledge is to halve inflation this year, which will help to ease the cost of living and provide more stability for the economy.
His second pledge is to grow our economy, and with it, to create better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country. With economic growth having stalled following high inflation, creating the conditions to bring back sustainable economic growth will benefit us all.
Making sure our national debt starts to fall was Rishi Sunak’s third pledge. This went up hugely due to the government support that was needed during the pandemic such as for the furlough scheme, and the interest payments take money away from public services. Getting the debt starting to fall will help to secure the future of our public services.
His fourth pledge was to get NHS waiting lists falling, so that people will get the care they need more quickly. Despite the highest ever funding and a record number of doctors and nurses, the increases in demand have grown faster this decade since Covid struck and waiting lists have grown.
The fifth pledge was to pass new laws to stop small boats crossing the channel, which I wrote about last week. While it is clear to most fair-minded people that these dangerous crossings need to stop, It will be interesting to see if Labour MPs will back new stronger laws or if they vote against.
I believe these priorities for 2023 set out by Rishi Sunak reflect the concerns of the people of Crawley.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
11th January 2023
