In his first speech of the new year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sought to give Britain peace of mind at a time of economic and social uncertainty. “The real point of her story is that she didn’t want to make false promises,” said UK correspondent Lia van Bekhoven.

In his speech – which lasted about half an hour – Sunak attempted to explain to the British people why he had been at 10 Downing Street for more than 70 days, Van Bekhoven thought. “And what exactly is the message,” he said. He said he wanted to be tried based on some of the promises he and his government made. Most importantly, the UK government halved inflation this year, but also shortened the waiting list for healthcare and stopped the influx of boat people from Calais.’

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Interestingly, however, Van Bekhoven points out, that’s not really what the British want to hear. “He said he wanted to keep that promise, but that’s not what they wanted to hear,” he said. ‘But it could easily be argued that he can predict, for example, a halving of inflation, economic growth and a contraction in the national debt, because economists everywhere are already saying so.’

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Van Bekhoven argues that the goals of shortening treatment waiting lists and stopping migrants are far more ambitious. But they don’t want to hear that. Instead, they want to hear how the government intends to resolve the strike wave that started in the fall,” he continued. ‘The strikers have plans to extend strikes into the summer.’

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Van Bekhoven also spoke about the acute crisis in health care. “It’s been on its knees for years, and now it’s a daily crisis there,” he continued. ‘Every day there are stories of late arrivals that result in death. According to doctors, about 500 people die needlessly every week because they weren’t helped in time.’

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According to Van Bekhoven, there is a good chance that Sunak will be held especially accountable for the strike crisis. “The British want to know if there is a plan, if there is an exit strategy and how the government envisions the end of the strike,” he concluded. ’ And specifically with what steps does he want to bring health care back. He doesn’t mention all the details and allegorical dots on the ‘i’, all the practical plans of action.’