Axminster MP Richard Foord has criticised the Prime Minister's first major speech of 2023, saying his five main pledges for the year "sounded more like a list of Conservative failures".

Liberal Democrat Mr Foord, who represents the Honiton & Tiverton constituency, said the speech would be of little comfort to those on NHS waiting lists and said Prime Minister Roshi Sunak has "no grasp of the challenges facing our communities".

With the public sector in disarray amid strike action and mounting pressure on health services, Mr Sunak outlined five key "people's priorities" for the year ahead. 

These were:

To halve inflation, which at 10.7 per cent in November 2022, slightly down from the 40-year high of 11.1 per cent the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics, largely driven by high energy costs.

To grow the economy, as the UK is expected to slump into recession according to The Bank of England and the Office for Budget Responsibility.

To reduce national debt, after UK public sector spending nearly tripled in November 2022 amid effort to protect households and businesses from rising energy costs.

To cut NHS waiting lists, which hit a record high of almost 7.21 million in October 2022.

To stop migrant boats, after a new record of 45,756 people arrived on the UK coast via small-boat Channel crossings last year.

The Prime Minister spoke passionately about how innovation was the key to growing the UK economy and announced plans to ensure all school pupils in England study maths in some form until the age of 18.

Responding to the Prime Minister's speech, Axminster's MP Mr Foord said: "Rishi Sunak's speech will be of little comfort to the many people waiting in pain to see a doctor or dentist across Devon.

"At the very moment he's talking about waiting lists, ambulances are backing up outside A&E departments and people who really ought to be seen by health professionals are choosing to stay away.

"The Prime Minister's latest pledges sounded more like a list of Conservative failures than a meaningful plan of action.

"In the last year we've had three Prime Ministers, four Chancellors, four Health Secretaries and the beginning of 2023 sees us with multiple emergencies gripping the country.

"Like his last two predecessors, Rishi Sunak has no grasp of the challenges facing our communities. The Conservatives are out of touch, out of ideas, and should be out of office."