The Prime Minister opened Cabinet by condemning the appalling and
sickening antisemitic atrocity at Bondi, Australia, on Sunday. He
said it was particularly chilling that some of these attacks were
focused on the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. The Prime
Minister said he had been in touch with the Australian Prime
Minister, the CST and Chief Rabbi and that there's no
doubt that Jewish people in this country feel less secure. He
added the government had to respond to that.
Turning to Ukraine, the Prime Minister said we were making
progress, including on security guarantees. He said it was clear
the path to peace was not an entirely straight line but that the
meeting in Berlin last night had been productive.
The Prime Minister then turned to 2026 and said this would be the
year that Britain turned renewal into reality. He said people
were rightly impatient for change and the government had ensured
stability, with the fiscal rules put in place and headroom
restored. He pointed to five interest rate cuts and the
announcement of a trade deal with South Korea as evidence of
progress. He then pointed to a range of measures that would come
into effect next year, turning renewal into reality, including in
March and April alone: 3,000 more neighbourhood police, lifting
of the two-child limit, capping of prescription charges to
under £10, taking £150 off energy bills, freezing of
rail fares for the first time in 30 years, 500 more schools
joining the free breakfast club programme, two million
people benefiting from the increase in the national living wage,
the triple lock increasing meaning £575 more for
pensioners, over 100 community diagnostic centres now open
seven days a week and Pride in Place rolled out
to 75 places and the renters' rights
reforms.
The Leaders of the House of Commons and the Lords then set out
that the second session would be a full program of legislation,
reflecting the ambition of the government.
The Prime Minister then invited the Chief Secretary to the Prime
Minister to update Cabinet on delivery. The CSPM set out plans
for coordination of delivery on the government's agenda. He also
noted the success of the government's New Media Unit and its
significant impact on modernising communications.
