Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 1 January 2023

1. ‘Waverers’ could save Tories

Labour’s lead in the opinion polls is at risk from a number of wavering voters, reported The Sunday Times. A study conducted by polling company Focaldata found that undecided voters could return to Conservatives. In some constituencies, including “the vital red wall”, these “waverers” can make up to a third of the electorate, said the paper. The findings suggest that “any narrowing of the polls in the next two years in the run-up to the next election will probably benefit Rishi Sunak”, it added.

2. Welby calls for care action

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on the government to take action to fix the country’s “broken” social care system. Care homes are “struggling” to deal with rising bills while trying to find and retain the staff they need to keep going, said the Most Reverend Justin Welby. “We know our care system is broken, but it doesn’t have to be. We can rise to the challenge of fixing it,” he said. The government insisted it had prioritised social care in last month’s autumn statement making available up to £7.5bn in support over the next two years.

3. Sunak promises ‘better future’

“I know we will get through these winter days”, Rishi Sunak has told Sunday Express readers, as he promised to “build a better future” for generations to come. The prime minister wrote that there was “every reason to believe we will emerge stronger” from the last year of upheaval. His more upbeat message was in contrast to his remarks 24 hours earlier, in which he had said: “I’m not going to pretend that all our problems will go away in the new year.”

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4. Harry book ‘tough on William’

Prince Harry’s memoir “may sour his troubled relationship with his brother forever”, said The Sunday Times. A source with knowledge of the book, which will be published later this month, told paer that although “Charles comes out of it better than I had expected”, the book is “tough on William, in particular”. They added: “There are these minute details, and a description of the fight between the brothers. I personally can’t see how Harry and William will be able to reconcile after this.”

5. Zelensky taunts Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky has told Russians that their leader is destroying their country. Responding to Vladimir Putin’s New Year message, which he had delivered flanked by people in military uniform, the Ukrainian President said Putin was hiding behind his troops, not leading them. “We don’t know for sure what new 2023 will bring us,” said Zelensky. “I want to wish all of us one thing – victory. And that’s the main thing.”

6. Pope leads Benedict praise

Pope Francis has led tributes to his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who has passed away, aged 95. “It is with emotion that we remember his person, so noble, so kind,” said Francis. “And we feel in our heart such gratitude, gratitude to God for having gifted him to the church and the world”. King Charles III said that he learned of the former Pope’s death with “deep sadness”. Benedict’s funeral service will be held at the Vatican on 5 January.

7. Hunt ‘raid’ prompts nuclear doubt

Two nuclear power stations could be closed next year as a result of Jeremy Hunt's windfall tax, their French owner has warned. EDF said the government’s raid on power producers will make it harder to keep the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool stations open. “We need a business case to support any life extension”, said Rachael Glaving, commercial director of generation at EDF UK. Both stations are “crucial to keeping Britain’s lights on” said the Sunday Telegraph.

8. Assange to ask for leave

Julian Assange will request leave from Belmarsh Prison to attend Dame Vivienne Westwood's funeral, said his wife. Dame Vivienne, who died this week aged 81, was an outspoken supporter and friend of the Wikileaks founder, protesting against his incarceration suspended in a bird cage. A Ministry of Justice spokesman told the BBC that it was unlikely such a request from Assange would be granted. He is fighting extradition to the US on charges related to the publication of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.

9. ‘Overcrowded corridors’ in hospitals

A patient was forced to wait 99 hours for a bed and a seriously ill child had to sleep on plastic chairs in A&E, reported The Sunday Times. With record numbers of patients being nursed in corridors in “grossly overcrowded” emergency departments, the full extent of the pressure the NHS is under has “become clear”, said the paper. Dozens of NHS trusts have declared critical incidents in the past three days. Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the situation in A&E was “extremely serious”.

10. Giuffre’s gagging clause expires soon

Prince Andrew is “braced” for his sex abuse accuser to return to the spotlight as a gagging clause signed by both parties is lifted in February, reported the Sunday Telegraph. Although the Duke of York paid millions to settle a civil case with Virginia Giuffre earlier this year, his payment “bought him just one-year of silence”, said the paper. Therefore, when it expires, Giuffre, who now lives in Australia, will be once again free to talk and could write a book. The Duke denies any wrongdoing.