Rishi Sunak vows to 'urgently' cut NHS waiting lists, halve inflation and stop the boats as he makes five promises | The Sun

RISHI Sunak has today unveiled a five-point New Year battleplan to grip the storm of crises engulfing Britain.

The PM assured the nation he can end the cost of living and strike misery – as well as finally tackling illegal immigration.


He also pledged to "urgently" cut waiting lists after critics accused the Tory leader of going missing while the NHS creaks under the pressure of a winter surge. 

Billed as a “reset” moment for his premiership, it is the first big speech Mr Sunak has given since entering No10 in October.

Staking his tenure on achieving five promises, he said: "We will halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists, and stop the boats.

"Those are the people’s priorities. They are your government’s priorities. And we will either have achieved them or not.

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“No tricks, no ambiguity. We’re either delivering for you or we’re not. We will rebuild trust in politics through action, or not at all.

"So, I ask you to judge us on the effort we put in and the results we achieve.”

In his major speech, the PM:

  • Vowed to "reduce the tax burden on working people" eventually
  • Pledged a community crime clean-up to make people feel safe in their areas
  • Said an announcement on strikes would come in the "coming days".
  • Promised that "NHS waiting lists will fall" on his watch
  • Put maths for kids at the heart of his plan for education

Tory MPs crowned him PM to restore order and control after Liz Truss’ disastrous 49 days in power.

But Mr Sunak’s first few months have been besieged by a string of problems, chiefly the series of crippling strikes across a slate of industries.

Rail workers are again taking action today in a virtual week-long shutdown of the trains, causing travel chaos for passengers.

RMT hardman Mick Lynch has warned his members could stage walkouts for weeks until their demands are met. 

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Mr Sunak has promised to lay out anti-strike legislation in weeks to smash the militant unions wreaking havoc.

Vowing to make an announcement in the "coming days", he said: "We hugely value public sector workers like nurses, they do incredibly important work.

"And that's why we want a reasonable dialogue with the unions about what's responsible and fair for our country."

NHS leaders also warn hospitals are at breaking point as ambulance waiting times rise and seasonal viruses like Covid and flu swamp doctors and nurses.

Health bosses have even told the public to wear masks if they feel unwell in a move that has angered Tory MPs.

And the post-Covid backlog has now swelled to seven million, leaving cancer patients waiting for treatment. 

The PM is also under pressure to stop the flow of migrants arriving on small boats across the Channel after pledging to end the crisis last month.

A record 45,756 migrants crossed the Channel to Britain last year — up 60 per cent.

Grumbling Tory MPs are starting to get impatient, with some already breaking cover to tell him to buck up.

Ex-Cabinet Minister Nadine Dorries – a Boris Johnson loyalist – said that “three years of a progressive Tory government [was being] washed down the drain.”

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She today said: “Will now be almost impossible to face the electorate at a GE and expect voters to believe or trust our manifesto commitments.”

She was also scathing of Mr Sunak’s ambition to force all kids to study maths until aged 18.

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