NHS waiting lists fall but backlog persists
NHS England data shows that the total waiting list for elective care fell from 7.6 million in July 2024 to 7.2 million in April 2025, a reduction of 400,000. However, the number of people waiting more than 52 weeks rose slightly from 305,000 to 312,000 over the same period, according to the latest figures.
Housing starts miss annual target
The government aimed to build 300,000 new homes per year, but only 234,000 were started in the 12 months to March 2025, a shortfall of 22%. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that planning approvals increased by 12% compared to the previous year.
According to the Office for National Statistics, house prices rose by 1.8% in the year to April 2025, down from 2.3% in the year to December 2024.
Economic growth and inflation
GDP growth averaged 0.3% per quarter in the first three quarters of 2025, below the 0.5% forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility. Inflation fell to 2.1% in May 2025, down from 3.2% in January 2025, the lowest since September 2021.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "We are making progress on the priorities that matter to working people, but there is much more to do."
Crime and policing
Recorded crime fell by 4% in the year to March 2025, with knife crime down 6% compared to the previous year. However, the number of police officers increased by only 1,200, short of the 20,000 pledged by 2029.
Home Office figures show that the proportion of crimes solved rose from 42% to 45%.
Net migration and asylum
Net migration stood at 685,000 in the year to December 2024, down from 764,000 the previous year. The number of small boat arrivals fell by 33% to 24,000 in the same period, according to the Home Office.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly commented: "These figures show the government is failing to control our borders."
