Keir Starmer’s new year message promised that 2026 is the year we’ll start to feel richer. He acknowledged our frustrations and expressed confidence that the country’s decline will be reversed. But before anyone gets too excited, he reminded us with his trademark pained expression that “renewal is not an overnight job”.

Optimism alone won’t fix the structural issues holding back growth and jobs. If you struggled to find inspiration or vision in the prime minister’s statements, you’re not alone.