It has not been a good year for the UK. Whether in politics, the economy or the monarchy, 2022 will be remembered for the effervescence that spread from climate change to institutions, producing numbers and negative feelings that should remain throughout 2023 and may influence the outcome of the next elections in 2024.
Many of the figures were records, like those recorded by thermometers during the summer. Three heat waves hit the country between June and August, and for the first time in history the British faced a heat of 40.3°C, measured in Coningsby.
In the midst of a national emergency —caused by the crisis accelerated by human action, according to experts—, services such as trains and commerce were affected by interruptions, with more than 3,200 deaths associated with the heat.
The frying climate also reached politics, but it was not restricted to the summer. In May, a report produced by the government revealed details of the parties held at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s official home in London, in 2020 and 2021, during dates when the British faced restrictions imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus.
With 60 pages, the document mentioned the participation of more than 80 people linked to the government in celebrations that lasted until dawn, left walls stained with wine and even took place on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral.
The then Prime Minister Boris Johnson attended at least eight parties, and the wear caused by the scandal that was called “partygate” was added to other crises accumulated in his three years in office. In July, having survived a no-confidence vote shortly before, he was forced to resign in the face of a stampede of ministers and officials.
The political instability that surrounded London deepened. In less than four months, the UK has had a string of three prime ministers, an aberration even by the standards of Italy, where the downfall of the head of government has become as ingrained in local culture as pizza.
After Boris’ departure, the Conservative Party’s internal electoral process ended in September with the victory of Liz Truss, then Minister of Foreign Affairs. The third woman to take the post, Truss launched an economic plan, called the mini-budget, based on cutting taxes and increasing loans. It was a disaster that rocked the markets and sent the pound to its lowest level in nearly 40 years against the dollar.
The target of criticism from all sides, Truss came to be considered highly perishable, which led to the emergence of one of the most surreal characters of this year – the lettuce that would survive his tenure in office.
After the comparison between longevity was made by The Economist magazine, the Daily Star tabloid began to broadcast in real time the rotting of a vegetable, while Truss’ situation became increasingly unsustainable. Just 44 days after taking office, Truss has fallen — and lettuce won.
The very short mandate was not only marked by economic chaos. Two days after taking office, Truss was overshadowed by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, aged 96, an event that brought the country and the world to a standstill. Amid political unrest, the United Kingdom lost one of its greatest symbols of stability.
The accession to the throne of Charles III, less popular than the mother and son William, gave new life to the anti-monarchy movement in the country, which defends the replacement of the regime by choosing the head of state through elections. In any case, the coronation of King and Queen Camilla — quite a turning point for someone who was once hated by the British — is scheduled for May 2023.
At the end of October, former finance minister Rishi Sunak became the third prime minister of the year after being nominated by the Conservative Party. A millionaire, young and of Indian descent, he took on the task of taking the country out of its political, economic and social crisis.
The British year was also one of indicators that had not been observed in the country for some time. The main one was inflation, which reached 11.1% in October, the highest rate in 41 years. The rise in the cost of living has been driven by food prices (+16.4%) and housing (+11.7%), as well as electricity and gas, a direct reflection of the War in Ukraine.
The theme is, by far, the biggest concern of the population. In December, a YouGov poll showed that for 66% of Britons the economy is the most important issue, followed by health (47%). At the end of November, Sunak’s performance was disapproved by a majority of 51%.
Dissatisfaction both with the cost of living and with the government is reflected, at the end of the year, in a series of strikes by public service workers, who are asking for wage readjustments to keep pace with inflation. For the first time in over a century, even nursing professionals have folded their arms.
While trying to resist pressure from unions, Sunak announced a new plan to curb illegal immigration, another area that has accumulated records in 2022 – the year should end with around 50,000 people arriving in the UK by boats crossing the English Channel. Among the measures, a military command to act in the area.
Immigration is the most important issue for just 33% of Britons, but it is a topic close to the Conservative Party and one of the fuels that led to Brexit. Taking place in 2020, leaving the European Union is considered a key point in the reasons for the turbulent year the United Kingdom has gone through, and explanations go along the line that it is bad to be poorly accompanied, but worse is to be alone.
Although part of the problems are shared with their European neighbors, such as the high cost of living caused by the war, the British collect worse performances and prospects. While in the EU GDP grew by 0.2% in the third quarter, between July and September, in the United Kingdom there was a decrease of 0.3%. The British economy will end the year overtaken by India, which will become the fifth largest in the world.
For the majority of the population, 51%, leaving the European bloc was a wrong decision, while 34% believe that the choice was right – a percentage well below the 52% who chose to leave in the 2016 referendum.
Economists predict that the British should only emerge from the recession in the middle of 2024, the year in which the next parliamentary elections are due to be held. And, by all indications, the Conservative Party, in charge of the government since 2010, should have difficulties in maintaining its majority. Still according to the YouGov institute, 48% say they would vote today for the Labor Party, the main opposition party, and only 23% declare their intention to vote for the conservative party.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
