LONDON (AFP) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Wednesday to cut inflation in half this year, tackle a health system crisis and tackle illegal immigration, laying out his priorities as the United Kingdom undergoes serious social crises.

In his first speech of the year, the conservative prime minister, who came to power at the end of October, mentioned "five promises" and "five pillars on which to build a better future for our children and grandchildren," but he did not offer any new measures regarding these files.

Two years at the latest, before the next legislative elections, the workers' opposition dominates in opinion polls, in a country that has witnessed a series of historic strikes, especially in the health and railway sectors. The crisis of the health system, which is on the verge of collapse, worries the British.

"We will cut inflation in half this year" to ease the cost of living, "and grow the economy by creating better wage jobs and opportunities across the country," Sunak said.

The prime minister also promised to reduce debt, which has increased since mid-2021 under the influence of inflation, which is close to 11%.
His pledge to halve inflation is in line with current central bank expectations.

Sunak also promised to reduce long queues in the NHS public health system, which can no longer cope after more than a decade of austerity and the pandemic.

As previously announced, he pledged to adopt "new laws to stop small boats" and implement swift expulsions for those arriving in the country illegally.

More than 45,000 migrants crossed the canal in small boats in 2022, a record number in a year in which four people died in a drowning accident. In 2021, 27 migrants died when their rubber boat sank.

"These are the priorities of the people" and "the priorities of the government," Sunak said, promising to "rebuild confidence in politics or no confidence" in case of failure. "I ask you to judge us by the efforts we make and the results we achieve," he added.