Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to deliver a sobering message to the British public next week, emphasizing that the extensive changes required to address the
nation's many issues will take time. In a forthcoming speech, he plans to candidly acknowledge that "things will get worse before they get better," framing it as an opportunity to be transparent with the public.
Since his decisive election victory in July, Starmer has frequently criticized the previous Conservative government, holding them responsible for the dire state of the country. He attributes this instability to the conditions that fueled this month's anti-migrant riots, which were sparked by misinformation.
In his address scheduled for Tuesday, just before Parliament reconvenes after the summer break, Starmer will stress that while change is inevitable, it won't be immediate. His government is committed to tackling a wide range of problems, from overcrowded prisons to extensive waiting times in the healthcare system.
"Change won't happen overnight," Starmer will state, according to excerpts from his office. "When the core of a system is deeply flawed, you can't just patch it up. You can't rely on quick fixes. We must overhaul the entire structure."
Starmer also plans to highlight the broader challenges his administration faces, describing the situation as not just an economic crisis but a societal one. "We've inherited not just an economic black hole but a societal black hole. That's why we need to act differently and be upfront with people about the tough choices ahead. Things will get worse before they improve," he will say.
The prime minister, who previously served as Director of Public Prosecutions, had to cut short his summer holiday to address the riots, which predominantly targeted Muslims and migrants. These riots were ignited by the false attribution of a tragic incident involving the deaths of three young girls in northern England to an Islamist migrant.
Starmer argues that the Conservative government's neglect has deepened societal divisions, making it harder to manage such crises now compared to when he was the country's top prosecutor from 2008 to 2013.
"And those rioters – throwing rocks, torching cars, making threats – they didn't just see that the system was broken. They were exploiting it, betting on its failure. After 14 years of populism and neglect, they saw the cracks in our society and took advantage. That's the situation we've inherited," Starmer will assert.
Appealing to Britain's working class, including teachers, nurses, small business owners, and firefighters, Starmer will emphasize that his government has already begun taking steps towards the change voters demanded in the July 4 election.
However, he will also caution that the dire state of Britain's public finances, projected to show a £22 billion ($29 billion) overspend this year, necessitates difficult decisions.
"If we don't take decisive action across the board, we won't be able to rebuild the foundations of this country as needed," Starmer will argue. "I won't shy away from making unpopular decisions now if it's in the country's long-term interest. That's what it means to be a government of service." Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.