I extend my warm New Year wishes to all readers of Mirror. Regardless of how you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful year ahead.
In retrospect, 2025 brought moments of immense pride. The Lionesses’ remarkable triumph in the Euros, the Red Roses clinching the women’s Rugby World Cup, and Scotland’s remarkable qualification for the World Cup were standout achievements. Yet, for many, it remained a challenging year. I understand the dedication of Mirror readers and the simple desires for occasional dining out, a getaway, or a new phone.
Therefore, my message for the upcoming year is clear: 2026 will mark the beginning of the changes we have pledged. Expect improvements in your bills, communities, and public services. More law enforcement presence in your neighborhoods, closure of asylum hotels, and the establishment of new healthcare centers nearby. Anticipate investments in community amenities like parks, piers, and youth clubs that bring pride to your town. Enhanced work rights and housing rights for renters are on the horizon, along with a significant reduction in child poverty rates.
Recently, a nine-year-old Scottish girl handed me a note highlighting the impact of poverty on children: hunger from missed meals, the chill of unheated rooms, the embarrassment of tattered school uniforms, and the exhaustion that ensues. It was touching to witness such awareness from a child, especially considering that a vast majority of impoverished British children come from hardworking families struggling to make ends meet.
To combat this, we aim to uplift over half a million children out of poverty this year. Initiatives include eliminating the two-child limit on child benefits, expanding free school meals to half a million needy children, and actively addressing the cost of living challenges.
Furthermore, ensuring financial stability for our nation has been a key focus. This stability enables us to mitigate the cost of living burdens and provide financial relief to the public. Measures such as freezing rail fares, prescription charges, and fuel duty, reducing energy bills by £150, cutting childcare costs for working families, and boosting the national minimum wage aim to support those who uphold our society.
Revitalizing our nation is an ongoing process, but we are making progress in steering Britain in the right direction. Each positive change signifies a reversal of decline, a restoration of opportunity and pride, and a brighter future for families.
In the realm of politics, one word has been overlooked lately – hope. Let 2026 be the year where hope is rediscovered, where the true spirit of Britain shines through, and where we collectively look ahead with renewed confidence.
– Prime Minister