Rishi Sunak faces challenges across several fronts including NHS waiting lists, economic growth, migration issues, and the housing market as he navigates his tenure as UK Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing scrutiny regarding his progress on key governmental priorities, especially in terms of NHS waiting list targets in England. Despite efforts to cut down the lists, with a reported decline in backlog numbers, the latest figures from February 2024 indicate that waiting lists for routine treatments stand at around 7.54 million. Sunak has attributed the strain on the NHS partly to ongoing strikes by medical staff and asserts that substantial progress has been made under challenging circumstances. The government continues to prioritize NHS recovery, aiming for more efficient patient services and shorter wait times.
Simultaneously, the nation’s economic scenario shows mixed signals. There have been seven successive quarters of per capita contraction, marking sluggish economic growth through 2023. Nevertheless, there has been a reported decrease in inflation and national debt, hinting at positive outcomes from some of Sunak’s economic strategies.
On another front, migration across the Channel remains a concern, with over 5,500 people having crossed this year. The management of this issue remains a contentious and unresolved priority under Sunak’s administration.
Meanwhile, the UK housing market exhibits signs of revitalization in the first quarter of 2024, with a surge in mortgage demand and an increase in lender optimism. This is noted alongside expectations of economic recovery supported by better credit availability to households and a potentially strengthening job market.
Collectively, these developments encapsulate the ongoing challenges and achievements of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s tenure, reflecting both successes across certain domains and areas requiring further attention and improvement.