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TEXTS FOR ORAL EXAM
Scienze Politiche 1-15, Servizi sociali 1- 10 TEXT 1
'BANTER BOUNCERS'
Free speech fears as pubs could be forced to hire bouncers to police boozy chats
under new laws.
Adapted from The Sun PUB bosses fear they could have to hire “banter bouncers” to police boozy chats under proposed laws. Rules to protect workers from being harassed may give them the right to sue if jokes or comments they hear offend them. An update to the Equalities Act aims to stop people getting abused at work, piling extra rules onto bosses to try and stamp it out. But critics say it will leave punters unable to shout at the telly or crack a joke without putting landlords at risk of being sued by upset staff. They want explicit exemptions for jokes and sporting chat written into the new Worker Protection Bill. Landlords warned the extra red tape will hit them hard with more costs as they are still struggling to recover from Covid. Tory MP Danny Kruger asked: "Will pubs be expected to put up signs saying, “No banter allowed” in order to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment? "A censorious spirit has entered the soul of organisations that hold power and responsibility in our country." Hugh Osmond, head of Punch Taverns, said: “How could we stop a group of people coming into a pub and having an offensive chat in the corner? You may even need extra people to try and police it. You wouldn’t find rules this strict in China or Russia.” The Equalities and Human Rights Commission will come forward with new clarity for employers on what it means and what they have to do. The Government says the law will not stop free speech but “will ensure employers are legally liable if they fail to protect their employees”. Ministers say that the laws would mean more anti harassment training, and stepping in to deal with complaints - but deny it would stifle pub chat.
TEXT 2
Commons Speaker blasts Boris Johnson over mob's Savile slurs to Keir Starmer
Sir Lindsay Hoyle said Boris Johnson's words in the Commons last week were 'inappropriate' Adapted from The Daily Mirror The House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has criticised Boris Johnson over his slur against Keir Starmer - warning "our words have consequences". Sir Lindsay said he has requested a "situation report" from the Metropolitan Police over the incident on Monday when police officers rescued the Labour leader from a group of angry protesters. Some of the crowd shouted "traitor" and repeated the untrue claim that Mr Starmer failed to prosecute notorious paedophile Jimmy Savile when he was the head of the Crown Prosecution Service. Prime Minister Mr Johnson has been under intense pressure to apologise and withdraw his comments in Parliament last week that Mr Starmer had failed to prosecute Savile - a false claim used by the far right. Sir Lindsay said the Prime Minister's words in the House of Commons last week were "inappropriate" and said it was unacceptable in Parliament to use language that could "inflame opinions". "I deplore the fact that members of this House were subjected to intimidating and threatening behaviour while simply doing their jobs," he said. "It has been reported that some abuse was directed at the leader of the Opposition yesterday related to comments made by the Prime Minister in this chamber. I made it clear last week that the Prime Minister's words were inappropriate. "As I said then, these sorts of comments only inflame opinions and generate disregard for the House and it is not acceptable. "Our words have consequences and we should always be mindful of the fact." In a video of the incident, shouts of "were you protecting Jimmy Savile" could be heard - while protesters also shouted at Mr Starmer for supporting Covid vaccines. Kim Smith, a Labour Member of Parliament said "Words have consequences, leaders have a duty to behave responsibly and politics is not a game. Our country deserves far better," she tweeted. Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "If he has any decency at all, the PM will now apologise."
TEXT 4a
SNP in Turmoil as Nicola Sturgeon resigns as First Minister
Scottish National party leader says she no longer has stamina to carry on in pressured and demanding role I am announcing my intention to step down as First Minister and leader of my party. If this was just a question of my ability, or my resilience to get through the latest period of pressure, I wouldn’t be standing here today. But it’s not. This decision comes from a deeper and longer term assessment. I know it might seem sudden but I have been wrestling with it, albeit with oscillating levels of intensity, for some weeks. Essentially, I’ve been trying to answer two questions: is carrying on right for me? And more importantly, is me carrying on right for my country, my party, and for the cause I have devoted my life to? I’m not expecting violins, here, but I am a human being as well as a politician. Giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. The country deserves nothing less. But it truth that can only be done by anyone for so long. Individual polls come and go, but I am firmly of the view that there is now a majority support for independence in Scotland but that support needs to be solidified and it needs to grow further for our independent Scotland to have the best possible foundation. To achieve that, we must reach across the divide in Scottish politics and my judgment now is that a new leader will be better able to do this. Someone about whom the mind of almost everyone in the country is not made up for better or worse. Someone who is not subject to quite the same polarized opinions, fair or unfair, as they may be.
TEXT 4b Adapted from THE MIRROR Nicola Sturgeon QUITS as Scottish First Minister in surprise announcement The First Minister has seen her popularity plummet, with a poll earlier this week finding four in ten voters wanted her to quit, and a source said she has "had enough" Nicola Sturgeon has dramatically QUIT as Scotland's First Minister - saying she is passing over the baton in the country's "final" push for independence. The SNP leader said she had been "wrestling" with the massive decision for a while, but said her head and heart told her the time to go had come. Describing the "brutality" of political life, she said leadership involved "giving up everything", which had taken a huge physical and mental toll. She said at a press conference that she would remain in charge while a successor is found - and would not quit the Scottish Parliament until the next election. She said: “I’ve believed that part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else."In my head and in my heart I know that time is now." She said the decision wasn't a reaction to a devastating poll that showed public support for her leadership was waning. Ms Sturgeon said that having become a polarising figure, she feared she might be holding back the battle for independence. She said she has no intention of leaving the political arena and would continue to fight for Scottish independence - which she said was in its "final phase". "I believe my successor, whoever he or she may be, will lead Scotland to independence, and I'll be there cheering them on," Ms Sturgeon said. She added: "My point is this, giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. The country deserves nothing less. "But a First Minister is never off duty, particularly in this day and age there is virtually no privacy. Even ordinary stuff that most people take for granted like going for a coffee with friends or for a walk on your own becomes very difficult” Ms Sturgeon , who has held the post since November 2014, has seen her popularity plummet in recent weeks, with a poll published at the weekend finding 42% of voters thought she should stand down now. She will leave office as the longest serving and first female First Minister since the creation of the Scottish Parliament - but will not see her dream of independence come to fruition under her leadership. But Ms Sturgeon has been mired in controversy in recent months as her Government tried to push through gender reforms, only for them to be blocked in Westminster. Her decision has been met by despair within her party.
TEXT 5
Keir Starmer visits Kyiv to emphasise Labour’s backing for Ukraine
Party leader meets Volodymyr Zelenskiy and says UK position will remain the same if he becomes PM Keir Starmer has travelled to Kyiv to meet Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy to emphasise Labour’s commitment to backing action to arm the country against a renewed offensive by Russia. The Labour leader said the UK’s position on Ukraine would remain the same if there was a change of government next year, as he travelled to the suburbs of Irpin and Bucha where Russia committed significant atrocities last year. “It’s incredible to see the evidence of atrocities that I’ve seen this morning. Photographs of civilians in the outskirts of Kyiv blindfolded, with their arms tied behind their back,” Starmer told Reuters. He said he had travelled to Ukraine to express solidarity with the country and to emphasise the need to pursue justice and reparations against perpetrators. “There has to be justice for this. There has to be justice in The Hague and there has to be proper reparation in the rebuilding of Ukraine,” he said. Speaking after his conversation with Zelenskiy, Starmer said it was a “constructive meeting” that had touched on the new military support Ukraine needs, as Kyiv continues to urge western leaders to give it fighter jets. “I was able to tell Zelenskiy that should there be a change of government when we have a general election here, the support for Ukraine will remain the same. It’s a very important message for me to be able to relay to the president face-to-face, and I’ve been able to do that this afternoon.” Starmer said Zelenskiy was very concerned about whether Labour would continue support through weapons and training. “I stressed that the Labour party supports and would maintain the defence, training, and technological support the current UK government is providing,” he said. “I’ve said throughout this conflict there will be no difference between the political parties on this, so we will continue to work with the government to see what further support we can provide.” The trip is the start of an international charm campaign for the Labour leader, during which he will visit the Munich security conference over the weekend for meetings with world leaders. Starmer is keen to portray himself to the Ukrainians as a reliable partner and strong supporter. He said Labour “doesn’t just hope for Ukrainian victory, we believe in it” and highlighted his time as a barrister representing victims of Serbian aggression at the international court of justice in The Hague. “We in this house have a duty to stand on the shoulders of giants and support Ukraine’s fight for freedom, liberty and victory,” Starmer said.
TEXT 6
Biden warns Putin: you’ll pay a heavy cost if you
attack Ukraine
US president fears ‘widespread human suffering’ in the event of an invasion as Russia
denies there are any plans for an attack
Adapted from The Guardian Joe Biden on Saturday night warned Vladimir Putin that the US would “impose swift and severe costs on Russia” if his forces invaded Ukraine. In a phone call that lasted more than an hour, the US president said an invasion would “produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia’s standing ”. The call was the culmination of a frantic day of diplomatic activity aimed at averting a war in Ukraine, which the US has warned could start as soon as Wednesday. A senior US official said that the two leaders had agreed to stay engaged in the coming days “but Russia may decide to proceed with military action anyway”, adding there was no evidence of “meaningful” de-escalation on the Ukrainian border. In Moscow a senior foreign policy adviser called the conversation between the leaders “balanced” and confirmed “the presidents have agreed to continue contacts at all levels”. But he rejected US claims that a Russian attack was imminent. “Hysteria has reached its peak,” the spokesperson said. The US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, called for “a diplomatic resolution to Russia’s unprovoked military buildup around Ukraine”. His Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov accused the US of ignoring its security proposals, which include a guarantee that Ukraine would not join Nato and a of Nato forces from eastern Europe. Ukraine’s president, however, has hit out at the US for causing “panic”. “I think there’s too much out there about a war from Russia, and people are even naming dates. The best friend for our enemies is panic in our country, and all this information only creates panic, it doesn’t help us,” said Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In Moscow, Lavrov denied there were any plans for an attack, saying US warnings were part of a propaganda campaign Western intelligence agencies have predicted that a Russian attack would be immediately preceded by a fabricated pretext, such a “false-flag” attack^2 on Russia or the Donetsk and Luhansk regions run by Moscow-backed separatists. (^2) https://www.bbc.com/news/world- 60434579 A false flag is a political or military action carried out with the intention of blaming an opponent for it. Nations have often done this by staging a real or simulated attack on their own side and saying the enemy did it, as a pretext for going to war.
TEXT 8
Opinion Italy Editorial The Guardian view on the new leader of Italy’s left: a feminist fresh start The surprise victory of Elly Schlein can galvanise the demoralised Democratic party Adapted from The Guardian On the eve of last autumn’s election defeat for Italy’s Democratic party (PD), one of the party’s youthful rising stars addressed a rally in Rome. “I am a woman,” said Elly Schlein, “I love another woman and I am not a mother, but I am no less a woman for this.” The words were a liberal response to Italy’s current Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who had famously signalled her social conservatism on LGBT+ rights and abortion with the formulation: “I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Italian, I am a Christian.” This weekend’s surprise election of Ms Schlein as the first female leader of the PD ensures that this radical clash of perspectives – along with similarly clear blue water on inequality, the green transition and the migration crisis – is now front and centre in Italian politics. A surprising turn of events, for a previously moribund centre-left it is also a potentially galvanising one. Ms Schlein’s emphatic victory reversed the result of a first- round poll – restricted to the PD party membership – which gave a more moderate opponent, Stefano Bonaccini, a clear lead. Open primary rules governing the second round appear to have motivated large numbers outside the party to vote to shake it up and move it to the left. Ms Schlein’s unexpected triumph reflects an accumulated sense of frustration among Italian progressives, as successive populist waves have transformed the political landscape and empowered the new radical right. In recent years, the PD has been criticised for failing to establish a clear identity, while supporting technocratic governments. The appointment as leader of a 37- year-old activist on inequality and the environment – one who temporarily left the party in protest at its shift to the centre under Matteo Renzi – has ended an era in which the PD became associated with defending the unsatisfactory status quo. The PD’s new leader has been given a mandate to be radical, but for Ms Schlein to succeed she will also need to be pragmatic enough to construct a winning coalition. Chronic division between the PD and the Five Star Movement, but also with the smaller centrist parties, has been the gift to Ms Meloni. It remains to be seen whether Schlein will attempt to create an understanding with Mr Renzi, who now leads the Italia Viva party. In any case Ms Schlein faces the task of widening her appeal, and that of the party she leads, beyond the largely youthful and urban social movements which have propelled her rise to date. To recover from dismal poll ratings, the PD will also need to find a way to win back blue-collar voters who have defected to the right. In the lead-up to Sunday’s poll, Ms Schlein warned the PD against trying to “be everything and the opposite of everything”. Her charisma, clarity and energy promise a new start. But building broad alliances will be just as crucial in the battle to defeat Ms Meloni.
TEXT 9
Braverman claims 100m people could qualify for asylum without law change
Adapted from The Guardian Home secretary outlines hardline rules in illegal migration bill meant to curb small boat crossings Suella Braverman has claimed that 100 million asylum seekers could qualify for protection in the UK without major law changes as she urged MPs to back a controversial immigration bill. The home secretary outlined new hardline rules under the government’s illegal migration bill meant to curb small boats being used to bring refugees to the UK. They include placing a legal duty on the home secretary to detain and remove nearly all those who arrive “irregularly” such as via small boats in the Channel. The law will be backdated to allow the removal of anyone who reaches the UK from the moment Braverman announced the plan to MPs, acknowledging that refugees may try to cross before the law is passed. “To anyone proposing de facto open borders through unlimited safe and legal routes as the alternative, let’s be honest: by some counts there are 100 million people around the world who could qualify for protection under our current laws. And let’s be clear: they are coming here. We’ve seen a 500% increase in small boat crossings in two years,” she said. She claimed the asylum system cost the British taxpayer £3bn a year. “Since 2018, some 85, people illegally entered the UK by small boat – 45,000 of them in 2022 alone. All travelled through multiple safe countries in which they could and should have claimed asylum. Many came from safe countries, like Albania. “They will not stop coming here until the world knows, if you enter Britain illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed. Removed back to your home country if it’s safe, or to a safe third country like Rwanda. That is precisely what this bill will do. That is how we will stop the boats,” she said. Braverman said she had put “an incredibly high bar” on those able to delay being deported. “Only those under 18, medically unfit to fly, or at real risk of serious and irreversible harm – an exceedingly high bar – in the country we are removing them to, will be able to delay their removal. Any other claims will be heard remotely, after removal,” she said.
TEXT 11
Rishi Sunak condemns censorship of Roald Dahl
Adapted from The Times The prime minister has criticised the publisher of Roald Dahl’s novels, saying that great works of literature should be “preserved and not airbrushed”. Puffin, Dahl’s publishers, has made hundreds of changes to the late author’s works, erasing many of his colourful descriptions and toning down his grotesque characters, apparently to make them more acceptable to a contemporary audience. The actor Brian Cox said that censoring the novels was similar to McCarthyism, and Sir Salman Rushdie joined criticism of the late author’s publisher. In the new texts, Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is no longer fat, and the character of Miss Trunchbull in Matilda no longer has a “great horsey face” — she just has a “face”. Mrs Twit, meanwhile, is no longer fearfully ugly and the Oompa-Loompas are gender-neutral. “I really do believe [these books are] of their time and they should be left alone,” Cox told The Times. “Roald Dahl was a great satirist. His children’s work is full of satire. It’shameful. It’s a kind of McCarthyism, this woke culture which absolutely wants to reinterpret everything and redesign and say, ‘oh, that didn’t exist’. Well, it did exist. We have to acknowledge our history.” Puffin employed “sensitivity readers” for the latest editions of the books. A note on the copyright page of each title explains: “This book was written many years ago, and we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all.” Yesterday Rushdie, who wrote The Satanic Verses, tweeted: “Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books should be ashamed.” Rushdie was stabbed repeatedly on stage at a literary festival in New York state last summer, having lived under constant threat to his life since
Words and phrases describing weight, gender, race, violence and mental health have been expunged from Dahl’s books. Professor Frank Furedi, an expert in the sociology of fear at the University of Kent, told the Daily Telegraph: “What we have here is a cleansing of the literature of the past and they are turning works of literature into books for their own wokeish values. “This is only the beginning because the role of sensitivity readers is expanding. Whereas they were initially hired to read new books submitted to them, now they’re going back through the literature of the past, trying to find words that might offend them.”
TEXT 12 CULTURAL MEDIATOR – JOB APPLICATION (SS)
COUNTRY
Italy REQUIRED LANGUAGES Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Italian TYPE OF CONTRACT Paid - 3/6 months, with the possibility of renewal NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS Relevant professional experience ARE YOU INTERESTED? We are currently short listing new candidates for this specific role. Visit our website regularly for updates. The role requires both the specific skills of the professional role – to match the needs of migrant people with the health and social services available in the area where they live – and a good knowledge of health care and social services facilities in Italy. The cultural mediator will be based in Naples/Castel Volturno and will work at EMERGENCY’s clinics in the area, and if necessary, will carry out SAR missions lasting 6 weeks. WORK CONTEXT AND ORGANIZATION The role requires the ability to adapt to flexible working hours and a workload, which may at times be intense or stressful. The teams are composed of various professionals including unpaid volunteers who support and work alongside the paid staff. The mediators and other members of the EMERGENCY team must have a cooperative, problem-solving approach, with the aim of finding the best way to enable people to access the care or assistance they need. The personnel may be required to liaise with the local authorities, regional associations and with the National Health Service facilities. In Ponticelli and Castel Volturno, we offer free services of primary health care and orientation to facilitate access to the health system. The cultural mediators inform patients about their rights, help them to access the services of the National Health Service, accompany them in case they need to undergo specialist examinations or tests at public facilities, deal with the practices for the issuance of codes Stp (Straniero temporaneamente presente) and Eni (European non enrolled) that guarantee foreigners and new EU citizens access to the Public Health Service.In the central Mediterranean we operate with a team, composed by a doctor, a nurse and a cultural mediator, on the Open Arms ship, to ensure medical assistance on board. TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The main tasks and responsibilities of the cultural mediator are: To welcome the patient and/or health and social services users; Linguistic and cultural mediation in compiling medical files; Linguistic and cultural mediation prior to and during the medical examination;
TEXT 13
SOCIAL WORKERS AND WHAT THEY DO
https://www.umassglobal.edu/news-and-events/blog/types-of-social-workers Social workers are involved in every aspect of community life and can be found in numerous settings — schools, hospitals, nursing homes, care homes, and more. There’s a lot of variety in social work. Most professionals work with clients from a wide range of backgrounds. Types of social workers and what they do
1. Child, family and school social workers Social workers in this field aim to improve the well-being of children and their families. Child and family social workers might help with arranging adoptions and finding foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In the school setting, they support students by addressing truancy , behavioral problems , teenage pregnancy and other issues. To become a child, family, and school social worker, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in social work , though employers may prefer candidates to have a master’s degree. Either way, there’s plenty of opportunity for these professionals, with the job market projected to grow 7 percent to 10 percent through 2028. 2. Community social workers Community social workers often serve a wide range of individuals as they carry out tasks like planning and administering community-wide programs that meet the needs of underserved populations. They may also work one-on-one with community members, assessing individual needs and making referral s to local resources. It’s important for community social workers to be able to think about the larger picture and consider what will benefit their community the most. These professionals need a bachelor’s degree in social work at minimum. Those with a master’s degree have more opportunities and are qualified to manage community programs and oversee the overall strategy. 3. Criminal justice social workers Criminal justice social workers can be found in many workplace settings, including courthouses, domestic violence support centers and correctional facilities. Each role comes with unique responsibilities. Those in correctional facilities, for instance, support incarcerated individuals throughout their time there. That can include conducting psychiatric evaluations and eventually preparing inmates to transition back into society. To become a criminal justice social worker, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s in social work. It’s also helpful to have attended courses on criminal justice. Some positions, like those dealing with investigative work or legal counsel, may require a master’s degree. 4. Gerontological social workers Gerontological social workers help elderly individuals maintain quality of life and live as independently as possible. Whether their clients live at home, with family or in an assisted living or nursing home , social workers in this field connect their clients with various services, help them apply for housing and more. Many gerontological social workers find themselves assisting clients in long-
term care facilities, outpatient services or adult protective agencies. If you’re hoping to work in this specialization, you’ll need to have a master’s degree — typically in social work
5. International social workers Travel is a natural part of the job for international social workers, who work around the world to address social injustice and violations of civil liberties or human rights. Although the goal to improve clients’ quality of life is the same for international social workers — cultural differences create certain challenges. Since they work in a huge variety of settings, including refugee camps, international adoption agencies and nonprofits, international social workers need to have ample training. To become one of these professionals, you’ll need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in social work as well as ample exposure to other cultures. Consider gaining experience working with people from an array of backgrounds by supplementing your resume with volunteer work. 6. Healthcare social workers If you’ve ever been through a health crisis, you understand the physical, emotional, and fiscal stress it can cause. Healthcare social workers are trained to help people going through these types of hardships. They’re equipped to help both patients and families through chronic, acute or terminal illnesses. These social workers collaborate with other healthcare professionals to determine patients’ needs. They might make referrals for other services, investigate child abuse or neglect , or even conduct research to inform social policy. Most healthcare social workers need a master’s in social work in order to be competitive. There’s good news for those who do choose to pursue this path. Employment of healthcare social workers is projected to grow 17 percent through 2028. 7. Mental health and substance abuse social workers If you’re passionate about helping those who’ve experienced trauma, have a mental illness or are dealing with substance abuse problems, this career could be a good fit for you. Mental health and substance abuse social workers provide individual or group psychotherapy, crisis intervention for clients and help their family members to support them. They manage cases and refer clients to various resources related to things like housing and treatment. These social workers collaborate with physicians, counselors and nurses, so well-rounded medical and psychology knowledge is important. You’ll need a master’s in social work to become a mental health and substance abuse social worker.
TEXT 16
Italian leader Giorgia Meloni fights invasion of English language
Adapted from The Times Italian companies, universities and government officials using English words in their output could face fines of up to €100,000, according to a bill proposed by Giorgia Meloni’s party. The bill claims that 9,000 English words have crept into the Italian dictionary and claims that the “obsessive” use of English risks causing the “gradual disappearance” of the Italian language. It marks another step in the ringfencing of Italian culture by Meloni’s right-wing government, which banned synthetic meat made in laboratories last month to protect traditional Italian cuisine. Both initiatives were hatched in the prime minister’s inner circle. The language bill was presented by Fabio Rampelli, an MP close to Meloni, and the lab-steak rule was backed by Francesco Lollobrigida, the agriculture minister, who is Meloni’s brother in-law. The language bill has the aim of banning all foreign words but claims that English is a particular danger and should be avoided since the UK has left the European Union. Italian linguists have fretted for years over the adoption of English words and phrases including “management”, “car sharing”, and “sexy shop” to describe a retailer of sex toys and lacy underwear. In 2015, 70,000 Italians signed a petition to halt the invasion of English words after the navy used the slogan “Be Cool and Join the Navy”. Claudio Marazzini, the head of Italy’s linguistic academy, said, however, that the idea of fining offenders “risks making the campaign ridiculous”. The academy works on persuading institutions to avoid English and says that it convinced Italy to use the expression “lavoro agile” instead of “smart working”. The opposition Five Star party poked fun at Meloni for having added the phrase “made in Italy” to the title of the industry minister. Critics recalled that Meloni’s party had descended from the MSI party, a postwar fascist movement, and compared the bill to the ban on foreign words imposed by the fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini. Among the words banned in the 1930s were “cocktail”, which became “bevanda arlecchina” or “Harlequin drink” because it could be multicoloured. Louis Armstrong’s name was Italianised to Luigi Braccioforte. Valeria Della Valle, a linguist, suggested that Meloni’s government was suffering from a bout of nostalgia and said: “Fines for the use of foreign words have a history I would rather not relive.”
TEXT 17
PM speech on building a better future: 4 January 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a speech setting out his priorities for 2023. New Year should be a time of optimism and excitement. Yet I know many of you look ahead to 2023 with apprehension. I want you to know that as your Prime Minister, I will work night and day to change that, and quickly. Not just by providing relief and peace of mind for the months to come – although we will. But also by changing our country…and b uilding a b etter future for our children and grandchildren. A future that restores optimism, hope, and pride in Britain. Let me first address two issues that I know are at the forefront of everyone’s minds: I know there are challenges in A&E – people are understandably anxious when they see ambulances queuing outside hospitals. You should know we’re taking urgent action: Increasing bed capacity by 7,000 more hospital beds and more people cared for at home. Providing new funding to discharge people into social care and the community, freeing up beds. And the NHS are working urgently on further plans for A&E and ambulances. And, on strikes. So I want people to clearly understand the government’s position. We hugely value public sector workers like nurses. They do incredibly important work. That’s why we want a reasonable dialogue with the unions about what’s responsible and fair for our country. And in the coming days we will update you on the government’s next steps. Today, I want to make a simple commitment: this government will always reflect the people’s priorities. People don’t want politicians who promise the earth and then fail to deliver. They want government to focus less on politics and more on the things they care about. The cost of living, too high. Waiting times in the NHS, too long. Illegal migration, far too much.
