Prime Minister's New Year Message (United Kingdom)

The Prime Minister's New Year Message in the United Kingdom is an annual speech made by the Prime Minister for the start of a new year.[1] It is traditionally released around New Year's Eve and Hogmanay throughout Britain, consisting of a speech which is a few minutes long and usually contains reflections on what has taken place throughout the previous year. This is then followed by a government-backed preview of what can be expected in the coming new year[2] and the current political state of the nation. Beyond politics, the message also includes sentiments and achievements from throughout the year, and national events that have taken place.[3]

The new year message from the Prime Minister is usually written and then recorded at 10 Downing Street.

Other political leaders in Britain use the new year as a chance to release their message to reflect on the year and inform the public on what may be expected in the coming year, this includes the Leader of the Opposition[4] in the British Parliament and leaders of the devolved governments.[5][6] Since 1932, the British monarch traditionally releases the Royal Christmas Message which is alternatively broadcast on Christmas Day throughout the UK and the Commonwealth realm.[7]

Past messages

2010s
Prime MinisterNew yearNotes
Gordon Brown 2010 As Prime Minister, Gordon Brown in his new year message reflected on how his government had seen off the worst of the 2008 recession and as Britain entered into a general election year, he wanted a new decade of prosperity for everyone and not just the privileged few. He reflected on the Christmas Day bomb plot on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, insisting terrorism threatens to put Britain's safety at risk, therefore he would make this a priority along with Afghanistan. In the new year he wanted to invest in Britain's future industries such as High-speed rail in the United Kingdom and green energy.[8][9]
David Cameron 2011 Following the 2010 general election in the last year, the Labour Party entered into opposition, and the Cameron–Clegg coalition was formed. David Cameron in his first new year message as Prime Minister stated the actions the government would be making allowed them to put the country on the right path; 2011 was remarked as being the year Britain could get back on its feet. The country needed to tackle the deficit, and upcoming austerity measures in the new year were not due to political ideology. He stated the country would become an international success story and though working as a coalition government was not easy, decisions in the new year would be in the nations best interest and it had a bright future.[10][11]
2012 In the new year Britain would host the 2012 Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II; it was stated the world would look to Britain and it was the job of the coalition government to get the country up to strength as the world watched. The message promoted the 'Big Society' and focused on the need to bring down the deficit by pushing forward as Europe's economy struggled. He wanted to sort out public services and reform welfare; however, economic recovery in the new year was a priority.[3][12]
2013 The message reflected on a great previous year for Britain, and focused on the national debt that still needed to be brought down. The government had successfully reduced it to being £13 billion smaller than the previous new year. The country could look forward to realism and optimism in 2013 as the government mentioned positive changes in education, welfare system and pensions.[13]
2014 Being the year Scotland was to host the 2014 independence referendum, the Prime Minister in his new year message stated that 2014 would be a significant year for the country, and a vital year for the British economy. He urged the people of Scotland to stay and help build a stronger Britain. The government would be backing small businesses, cutting income tax, capping welfare, controling immigration and investing in education as Britain and Europe continued to recover from the recession.[14][15][16]
2015 In the new year, voters would go to the polls for the 2015 general election; the Prime Minister urged people in his message to stick to the long-term plan of creating prosperity and securing a better future. The global economy remained uncertain as they entered into 2015; however, the country could choose competence or taking a huge risk of going back as they think about voting in May.[17]
2016 The Prime Minister in his message stated the economy was growing in strength, and having formed a majority government following the election year the country could continue to renew its strength. More than 31 million Britons would start the year in employment, the most on record in Britain. It was promised the country would hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the European union by the end of 2017. There was a focus on solving the housing market, social issues and concerns with national security[1].
Theresa May 2017 In her first new year message as Prime Minister, Theresa May focused on unity and urged people to reflect on the previous year following the EU referendum. 2017 would be the year the nation started to make its exit from the European Union. Though not everyone shared the same view points, and the referendum was divisive, she urged people to unite as one nation as it started to build a new future. She stated it was not just big events, but also small personal events that defined our year. She paid tribute to Jo Cox, MP for Batley and Spen who was murdered by a right-wing extremist a week before the EU referendum.[18][19][20]
2018 The Prime Minister reflected on progress made on Britain's departure from the EU in the last year, having triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union in March. The government had started the first phase of negotiations with member nations and was ready to move onto trade and security in the new year. She stated people just wanted the government to get on with Brexit, but there was also other issues which effected peoples daily lives. The government would continue to invest in the National Health Service as it celebrated its 70th birthday. The country would celebrate 100 years of women being able to vote and the centenary of the end of World War I. The government would work to be a continued force for peace, fight against discrimination and work towards solving climate change and plastic within the ocean.[21][22]
2019 Theresa May in her message looked to start a new chapter, urging people to choose her Brexit deal. She wanted 2019 to be the time people in Britain put their differences aside and work together to form a new relationship with the European Union and the world. Theresa May stated the national debt was beginning to fall sustainably, absolute poverty was at record lows and employment was high. In the new year the government hoped to have potential to achieve more.[23][24]

2020s
Prime MinisterNew yearNotes
Boris Johnson 2020 In his first new year address as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson focused on the theme of renewing Britain and bringing people together to the heal divisions seen in 2019. He stated it would be a decade of prosperity and opportunity for Britain as the country aimed to leave the European Union. He aimed to represent everyone who voted both leave and remain, as well as those who would have not traditionally voted for the Conservative Party in the 2019 general election. He wanted to increase education standards, enshrine national health service fund rises into law, create new trade relationships, as well as freezing VAT, income tax and national insurance in the new year.[25][26][27]
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References
  1. "New Year 2016: Prime Minister's message". GOV.UK.
  2. Video, Telegraph; Association, Press (1 January 2019). "Theresa May uses New Year's speech to push her Brexit deal" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. "David Cameron's New Year Message: Olympics And Diamond Jubilee Will Get Britain Back On Track". HUFFPOST. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. "Jeremy Corbyn – New Year Message for 2019". 1 January 2019.
  5. "First Minister New Year message". Scottish Government News.
  6. "Alun Cairns' New Year message for 2019". GOV.UK.
  7. Frost, Katie (19 December 2019). "How the Queen's First Televised Christmas Broadcast Changed the Royal Family Forever". Town & Country.
  8. "Do not wreck recovery, says Brown". 30 December 2009 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  9. "FactCheck: Labour's recovery? - Channel 4 News". www.channel4.com.
  10. Rush, Julian. "David Cameron warns 2011 will be difficult year". Channel 4 News.
  11. "Prime Minister's New Year message". GOV.UK.
  12. "2012 New Year message from David Cameron". GOV.UK.
  13. "David Cameron's 2013 New Year message". GOV.UK.
  14. "Prime Minister's New Year's Message". ITV News.
  15. Jan 2014, 12:14PM GMT 01 (1 January 2014). "David Cameron's New Year message". www.telegraph.co.uk.
  16. "UK Prime Minister, David Cameron's New Year Message". www.mnialive.com.
  17. Mason, Rowena (1 January 2015). "David Cameron and Ed Miliband turn gaze towards 7 May". The Guardian.
  18. "New Year 2017: Prime Minister's message". GOV.UK.
  19. "Theresa May appeals for unity ahead of Brexit in New Year message". The Independent. 31 December 2016.
  20. "Theresa May gives new year message". BBC News.
  21. "Prime Minister Theresa May's New Year message for 2018". GOV.UK.
  22. "Theresa May says 2018 will bring 'renewed pride' in Britain". The Independent. 31 December 2017.
  23. "Theresa May urges MPs to back Brexit deal in new year message". 31 December 2018 – via www.theguardian.com.
  24. Glaze, Ben (31 December 2018). "Theresa May uses her New Year message to make desperate plea about Brexit". mirror.
  25. correspondent, Kate Proctor Political (31 December 2019). "Let's be friends: Boris Johnson's new year message to remainers" – via www.theguardian.com.
  26. "Prime Minister's New Year's message: 31 December 2019". GOV.UK.
  27. Crowcroft, Orlando (1 January 2020). "Johnson says Britain must 'bid farewell to division' in NYE speech". euronews.

See also
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