This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/65647308

The article has changed 34 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 13 Version 14
Rishi Sunak's five promises: What progress has he made? Rishi Sunak's five promises: What progress has he made?
(10 days later)
On 4 January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set out his five priorities for 2023.On 4 January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set out his five priorities for 2023.
"I fully expect you to hold my government and I to account on delivering those goals," he said."I fully expect you to hold my government and I to account on delivering those goals," he said.
What progress has been made?What progress has been made?
Halving inflationHalving inflation
The government's top priority is halving inflation - the increase in prices over time - by the end of 2023.The government's top priority is halving inflation - the increase in prices over time - by the end of 2023.
Inflation was at 10.7% in the three-month period between October and December 2022, which means the government aims to reduce inflation to 5.3%. (It uses a measure called the Consumer Prices Index, which tracks the price of a typical basket of goods).Inflation was at 10.7% in the three-month period between October and December 2022, which means the government aims to reduce inflation to 5.3%. (It uses a measure called the Consumer Prices Index, which tracks the price of a typical basket of goods).
At the time the PM made the pledge, many experts already expected inflation in the UK to drop sharply, but it did not fall as quickly as expected in the first half of 2023. At the time the PM made the pledge, many experts already expected inflation in the UK to drop sharply, but it has not fallen as quickly as expected.
In August CPI fell slightly to 6.7% from July's figure of 6.8%, when many had expected it to rise. In August CPI fell slightly to 6.7% from July's figure of 6.8%, although many had expected a rise.
Despite the recent falls, analysts remain divided about whether the PM's goal will be achieved.Despite the recent falls, analysts remain divided about whether the PM's goal will be achieved.
However, the Bank of England said in August that it expected inflation to be about 5% by the end of the year, which would meet the target.However, the Bank of England said in August that it expected inflation to be about 5% by the end of the year, which would meet the target.
When will we know? Inflation figures for the fourth quarter of 2023 will be published on 17 January 2024.When will we know? Inflation figures for the fourth quarter of 2023 will be published on 17 January 2024.
Why inflation is falling but prices are still risingWhy inflation is falling but prices are still rising
How much are prices rising for you? Try our calculatorHow much are prices rising for you? Try our calculator
Growing the economyGrowing the economy
Downing Street said the pledge to "grow the economy" will be met if the economy is bigger in the three-month period between October and December 2023 than it was during the previous quarter (July-September). Downing Street said the pledge to "grow the economy" will be met if the economy is bigger in the three-month period of October to December 2023 than it was in the previous quarter (July-September).
It is using GDP (or Gross Domestic Product), a measure of all the activity of companies, governments and individuals.It is using GDP (or Gross Domestic Product), a measure of all the activity of companies, governments and individuals.
This would not normally be seen as a difficult pledge, because the UK's economy is usually growing.This would not normally be seen as a difficult pledge, because the UK's economy is usually growing.
However, while revisions to official figures suggest that the economy recovered faster from the pandemic than previously thought, it shrank by 0.5% in July, according to the latest data. However, while the economy is now thought to have recovered faster from the pandemic than previously thought, it shrank by 0.5% in July, according to the latest data.
The pledge to grow the economy is made more difficult by the government's promise to halve inflation.The pledge to grow the economy is made more difficult by the government's promise to halve inflation.
The Bank of England has been putting up interest rates in an attempt to stop prices rising so quickly.The Bank of England has been putting up interest rates in an attempt to stop prices rising so quickly.
However, this also reduces spending, and slows economic growth.However, this also reduces spending, and slows economic growth.
The Bank is only expecting the economy to grow by about half a percent in 2023 and 2024.The Bank is only expecting the economy to grow by about half a percent in 2023 and 2024.
When will we know? GDP for the fourth quarter of 2023 will be published on 13 February 2024.When will we know? GDP for the fourth quarter of 2023 will be published on 13 February 2024.
Debt fallingDebt falling
When governments talk about debt falling, they almost always mean as a proportion of GDP.When governments talk about debt falling, they almost always mean as a proportion of GDP.
The idea is that debt is falling if it is growing more slowly than the economy.The idea is that debt is falling if it is growing more slowly than the economy.
But debt rose above 100% of GDP for the first time since 1961, before falling back slightly. It had been thought that debt rose above 100% of GDP earlier this year. However, as GDP has since been revised upwards, that is no longer the case.
If Mr Sunak does not achieve his second priority of growing the economy, then cutting debt becomes even harder. But levels of UK government debt are still high by historical standards.
The deadline for this pledge is not clear. In the Budget in March, the government claimed to be on track to meet its pledge on debt. That's because the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - which checks the health of the economy - forecast that debt as a proportion of GDP would fall in 2027-28.
In the Budget in March, the government claimed to be on track because the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - which checks the health of the economy - forecast that debt as a proportion of GDP would fall in 2027-28. But the OBR also issued some stark warnings about the sustainability of UK debt.
But the OBR actually said that the measure would rise from 88.9% in 2022 to 94.8% in 2026-27, before dropping slightly to 94.6% in 2027-28. It also issued some stark warnings about the sustainability of UK debt.
When will we know? The next debt forecasts will be published alongside the 2023 Autumn Statement.When will we know? The next debt forecasts will be published alongside the 2023 Autumn Statement.
Warning public debt could soar as population agesWarning public debt could soar as population ages
How does government borrowing work?How does government borrowing work?
Cutting NHS waiting listsCutting NHS waiting lists
Mr Sunak said: "NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly."Mr Sunak said: "NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly."
His pledge only refers to waiting lists in England, because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland manage their own health systems.His pledge only refers to waiting lists in England, because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland manage their own health systems.
However, the overall number of patients waiting for treatment in England was 7.68 million people in July, up more than 100,000 from the previous month.However, the overall number of patients waiting for treatment in England was 7.68 million people in July, up more than 100,000 from the previous month.
On a visit to a hospital in September, Mr Sunak conceded that his target of reducing the waiting list was in doubt, saying it was "very hard", but that it would have been met without the ongoing NHS industrial action. On a visit to a hospital in September, Mr Sunak conceded that his target of reducing the waiting list was in doubt, saying it was "very hard". He said it would have been met without ongoing NHS industrial action.
The NHS target is to see people within 18 weeks for non-urgent consultant-led treatment.The NHS target is to see people within 18 weeks for non-urgent consultant-led treatment.
When we asked Downing Street when the prime minister had aimed to have waiting lists falling, we were pointed towards the plan for tackling the backlog of elective care (care planned in advance), which said the overall waiting list was expected to be falling by about March 2024. When we asked Downing Street when the prime minister had aimed to have waiting lists falling, we were pointed towards the plan for tackling the backlog of elective care (care planned in advance). This said the overall waiting list was expected to be falling by about March 2024.
When will we know?: Waiting list figures are usually published on the second Thursday of each month.When will we know?: Waiting list figures are usually published on the second Thursday of each month.
Stopping small boatsStopping small boats
The final priority was to "stop the boats" which bring people across the English Channel, after 45,755 migrants crossed over from France that way in 2022.The final priority was to "stop the boats" which bring people across the English Channel, after 45,755 migrants crossed over from France that way in 2022.
The prime minister proposed to do this through new legislation. The government finally passed its Illegal Migration Bill on 17 July, ending a long-running stand-off between MPs and Lords. The prime minister proposed to do this through new legislation. The government finally passed its Illegal Migration Bill on 17 July, giving the home secretary a legal duty to detain and remove anyone entering the UK illegally.
Mr Sunak has said that his plan to tackle small boat crossings is "starting to work".Mr Sunak has said that his plan to tackle small boat crossings is "starting to work".
As at 12 September, 23,382 people had crossed the English Channel in 2023, which is less than had done so at the same point in 2022. As at 27 September, 24,293 people had been detected crossing the English Channel in 2023, according to the Home Office, which is 25% fewer than had done so at the same point in 2022.
When will we know? Figures on arrivals in small boats are collected daily.When will we know? Figures on arrivals in small boats are collected daily.
How many people cross the Channel in small boats?How many people cross the Channel in small boats?
Rishi Sunak's claims on small boats fact checkedRishi Sunak's claims on small boats fact checked
What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
Related TopicsRelated Topics
InflationInflation
GDPGDP
Rishi SunakRishi Sunak
Economic growthEconomic growth
BBC VerifyBBC Verify
NHSNHS
MigrationMigration