Finance: Richard Hunter looks ahead to 2023 with annual acronym

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According to an exclusive poll British people are evenly split over whether this year will be any better than the one which is just finishing. A polling expert believes that the uncertainty is caused by the continuing cost of living crisis, strikes and political upheaval.

The Techne UK poll of 1,624 for the end of last year shows that 41 percent believe this year will be worse for Britain while the same number think it will be better.

Michela Morizzo, chief executive of Techne, said that normally a question like that this year would give an optimistic answer.

She said: “This week as part of our regular national interviews we asked whether voters believe 2023 will be a better year for Britain than 2022?

“Normally at this time of year with the festive holiday ahead and a new year beckoning we would expect a very positive response to this question.

“But perhaps understandably given the current cost of living crisis, strikes and great uncertainty respondents were split evenly down the middle – 41 percent felt 2023 would be a better year whilst 41 percent felt it would not be a better year when compared to 2022.”

The results come despite 2022 seeing the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, a cost of living crisis, the resignation of two Prime Ministers and an energy crisis as well as the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The results show the continuing social and political splits in the UK.

Brexiteers are more optimistic about 2023 by 44 percent to 39 percent while 2016 Remain voters are more pessimistic by 44 percent to 40 percent.

Meanwhile, younger voters aged 18 to 34 are also more pessimistic about next year by 44 percent to 32 percent.

However, older voters aged 65 and above are the most optimistic for 2023 by 46 percent to 40 percent.

University level educated people are also highly optimistic by 51 percent to 39 percent while people who left school with no further qualifications are more likely to be pessimistic by 41 percent to 39 percent.

The income divisions in the UK are also exposed with 57 percent of those in the highest personal finances categories optimistic that 2023 will be better while only 33 percent of those in the lowest brackets feel the same.

Self employed people seem to be among the most worries after 2022 brought tax increases for 2023 and only 35 percent think next year will be better for them.

Meanwhile pensioners with their triple lock guarantee in place are more likely to think 2023 will be better by 46 percent to 39 percent.

Britain will usher in 2023 with both a new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and a new King Charles III whose coronation on May 6 will be one of the events of the forthcoming 12 months.

For Mr Sunak, he will need to turn around public opinion which is currently against his Conservative Party who are stuck at 28 percent in the Trchne UK/ Express.co.uk tracker poll.

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Inflation, which hit a high of 11.1 percent in 2022 is set to come down.

However, strikes are expected to continue with nurses warning they may hold industrial action for the next six months.

Among the other big events in 2023 will be the women’s football world cup in New Zealand and Australia where recently crowned European champions England are among the hot favouriites.

England are also one of the favourites in the men’s cricket world cup in India and rugby world cup in Fance both in October.

It is unlikely that Mr Sunak will call an election in 2023 but there will be local elections in May while a number of countries such as Poland, Turkey, Estonia, Finland and Paraguay will all be holding national parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP planned to hold an independence referendum in Scotland in 2023 but, after a Supreme Court ruling, it cannot be legally binding without the agreement of the UK Parliament.

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