Enda Brady: UK Correspondent on Scotland cancelling NYE, Brits on WHV in Australia, and Keir Starmer's first year reflections

The UK'S coldest New Year in 12 years is coming their way.

Scotland is predicted to see five and a half inches of rain in less than 24 hours and the city has cancelled NYE celebrations. 

A huge rise in the number of young Brits visiting Australia on working holiday visas this year is troubling for the National Health Service in the UK.

And a huge year ahead for Keir Starmer after a turbulent 12 months - can he turn things around?

UK Correspondent Enda Brady joins the show. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:16):
Now to the UK within the Brady good morning.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah, Good morning Tim. Happy New Year to you and
to all our listeners.

Speaker 4 (00:22):
Yes years to you. Well, not so much in Edinburgh.
They're canceling New Year's Eve, an't I?

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yes? They have so breaking news out of Scotland in
the last hour or so. The weather forecast for tomorrow night,
New Year's Eve for us is going to be extremely windy.
There's going to be a lot of rain, there is
a big storm pushing in from the north and it's
going to be very very cold. And the authorities in
Edinburgh have decided that the world famous street party will

(00:50):
not happen and there will be no fireworks either, So
I think it's going to be a night by the
fire I think a lot of people in Scotland who
have traveled for the famous celebrations will be doing it indoors,
in a pub, in a hotel, in someone's home. But
the Edinburgh Street carnival and festival is not happening on
safety grounds.

Speaker 4 (01:08):
And well, the coldest New Year in twelve years is
coming away, isn't it.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yes, So there's a lot of rain Western Scotland. They're
predicted to have five and a half inches of rain
in less than twenty four hours, so that will bring
flooding a lot of problems. And we've got this it's
really really cold here discernibly so the last twenty four
hours Arctic blast has pushed down from the north. So
for a lot of people, I think it's going to

(01:34):
be a New Year's Eve by the fire, nice glass
of red and hosts twenty twenty five coming in.

Speaker 4 (01:41):
And you've got a huge rise in the number of
young BRIT's visiting Australia on working visas and not such
good news for the National Health Service.

Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yes, because a lot of them are young doctors and nurses.
And Australia has extended the age now from thirty to
thirty five that you can have first applied for the
visa and you can get it for three years. And
I think what we're seeing a pattern of is a
lot of young medical professionals, you know, maybe getting qualified
and doing a few years in the UK and then deciding,

(02:10):
you know what, I just want to go and explore
the world. They go to Australia. They have a look
around the healthcare system in Australia and they're starting to
realize that it's better money, a lot less stress, it's
more well funded, and they're starting to think there's a
far better life outside of the UK. So it's spelling
bad news for the National Health Service here. Fifty thousand

(02:32):
young Brits have gone on these working visas to Australia
this year, and my own country, Ireland, twenty two thousand
Irish people right now are in Australia on these visas
as well.

Speaker 4 (02:44):
Tragically, it won't be made up by disgruntled Australian's hitting
your way either, I guess, will it.

Speaker 3 (02:50):
No, No, I'd imagine I can't imagine we've too much
to sell them at this time of the year.

Speaker 4 (02:55):
Frank, Well, you know there are those who like the
caller with he anyway. I imagine there's one man who's
going to be looking back on twenty twenty four with
a mixture of emotions because he became, because he's been
Prime Minister a short time, but he's also had a
terrible Yes, Kis.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
Stamer will be looking forward to twenty twenty five, Wandy.

Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, professionally and personally. So he's had a terrible Christmas.
His brother Nick passed away on Boxing Day at the
age of sixty. He was fighting cancer. So the Starmars
have had a really, really difficult Christmas. Look, he waited
and worked so hard for so long to become Prime Minister.
He got the job on July the fifth, and it's

(03:35):
been a rocky few months. There's been a few decisions
that haven't done down very well. He inherited a complete
shambles from the previous government. So I think Kirs Starmer
will be looking to twenty twenty five and thinking, Okay,
first full calendar year in the job, let's get stuck
in and let's just try and get Brittin moving again,
get Britain working again.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
Do you think he can turn it around?

Speaker 3 (03:59):
I think he can. I think the one thing about
him is he's not a failed hedge fund manager. He's
not a finance guy. He's not a failed journalist. You
know all the previous people. He's not bonkers. You know
I'm going through now Johnson, Truss, Sumac. You know. Stammer's
a dedicated public servant. He's worked all his life in law.

(04:21):
He was a Public prosecutor. He became the Chief Public Prosecutor,
and I think ultimately he's someone that wants to see
Britain get back off its knees and get moving again,
which is what everyone here wants. And I think for once,
you know, maybe the UK has a chance again. He
needs to start working more closely with Europe. Brexas has
been an unmitigated disaster for this country's economy and its people,

(04:45):
and I think, you know, with a fair wind and
a few trade deals and maybe a little bit of
luck next year, he can possibly do it.

Speaker 4 (04:52):
He's got a little bit of time on the side
with the election cycle, hasn't he. Hey, Inda, what have
you got planned for New Year's a Because every time
I think of that now, I keep on thinking, maybe
you'll be at Marty's.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Pabuchov googled a few times since you've just mentioned it.

Speaker 3 (05:06):
No, Kim, I'm going to be in England right now.
I'm at my best mate house New Year's Eve and
my wife is within earshot, so I keep this down.
I'm at my mother in law's for New Year's Eve.
It's going to be amazing. I'm going to have so
much fun. It's going to be the best night of
the year, dear, and I wish you'd him and all
our listeners are wonderful twenty twenty five, and thanks for

(05:26):
all the love and support this year. I love you guys.

Speaker 4 (05:29):
Well hi, and I'm sure it guys both ways. We
love chatting too, and I look forward to chatting too
and the new year, and happy New Year to you.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
God blessed him.

Speaker 1 (05:37):
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