The World Ahead Globe Icon
The World Ahead | Britain in 2024

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer: who would actually bring change?

Two men who are not natural brawlers will fight it out for power in Britain’s election in 2024

A number of blue bars being overtaken by red in between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak facing off
Illustration: Nate Kitch

By Matthew Holehouse

At the Labour Party’s conference in Liverpool in October 2023, Sir Keir Starmer spoke at a breakfast for business leaders. His host asked the Labour leader for predictions for the year ahead.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2024 under the headline “A long-awaited battle”

Discover more

The World Ahead The World Ahead 2025

Ten business trends for 2025, and forecasts for 15 industries

A global round-up from The Economist Intelligence Unit

Illustration of power boats in the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China

The World Ahead The year ahead

Calendar 2025

Our selection of events taking place around the world


The World Ahead Superforecasters in 2025

What the “superforecasters” predict for major events in 2025

The experts at Good Judgment weigh in on the coming year


The World Ahead Obituary in 2025

The rings of Saturn will disappear in 2025

First observed by Galileo, this occurs twice every 29 years

The World Ahead By Invitation: Science & technology in 2025

Casey Handmer says solar power is changing the economics of energy

Large-scale production of synthetic fuel is now feasible, argues the founder of Terraform Industries

The World Ahead Science & technology in 2025

Space missions to watch in 2025

Humans may fly around the Moon, and robots will explore new frontiers