Johnson had planned to use the conference this week to move past over 18 months of COVID-19 and focus on his promises from the 2019 election to address regional inequality, crime, and social care. However, the prime minister is now facing challenges more than nine months after Britain's exit from the European Union, which he had said would allow the country to have more control over its economy. Instead, he is dealing with issues such as petrol shortages, concerns about Christmas supplies, and gas companies struggling with rising wholesale prices. In a statement before the conference in Manchester, Johnson did not mention these ongoing problems but instead emphasized his government's success in addressing the public's priorities. He stated that the country did not endure COVID-19 only to return to how things were before. The concept of Build Back Better involves making changes and improvements as we recover, focusing on priorities such as social care, job support, climate change, crime prevention, and leveling up. Despite claims of supporting businesses and protecting jobs during the pandemic, critics argue that the government failed to act swiftly in implementing lockdown measures in the early days. The removal of state benefits and the end of a COVID jobs support scheme may draw criticism from lawmakers in regions that traditionally support the opposition party.