Britain’s problems won’t go away in 2023, Sunak warns

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LONDON (AP) — Britain has had a tough 12 months and its problems won’t “go away” in 2023 — but the coronation of King Charles III will help bring the country together, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in his message on Saturday. New Year.

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Sunak, who in October became Britain’s third Conservative prime minister of the year, said the UK had been rocked this year by the « profound economic impact » caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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He said his government had taken « tough but fair decisions to get borrowing and debt under control » and helped Britons cope with a cost of living crisis driven by soaring energy bills.

Sunak did not mention the political chaos in the UK this year, which saw former Prime Minister Boris Johnson step down in July after a series of scandals and his successor Liz Truss quit after less than two months in office.

Britain’s economy and politics have since calmed down, but Sunak still has to deal with a slowing economy, widespread strikes by workers in response to the cost of living crisis and a restless Tory party which loses popular support after 12 years in power.

« I’m not going to pretend that all of our problems will go away in the new year, » he said.

But he added that the UK would « come together with pride for all that makes this country great » for Charles III’s coronation ceremony.

Charles became monarch immediately after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8. He will be officially crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6.