i agree that we need a new settlement in Britain as between the market and the public realm. I also think it is possible. But it will take a long time. The important thing is to at once signal the destination and provide something of a route map for the journey.
We have, collectively, been treated with contempt by the Tories, there is no doubt of this. However there have been many who having been willing 'fools', insomuch as they have failed to apply any form of critical analysis to their own motivations and relatedly those of the political elite. Fools then may be an apt description for the general behaviour we have seen in recent times. Sadly then we seem to have reached a low bar within the idea that politics should serve the general good rather than the select imperatives of the minority. In other words we see ourselves as atomised, self interested and permanently crippled in aspiring towards our egalitarian motivations. This is where we are now it seems and I frequently wonder if there is a way back to a saner, fairer basis for our economy and society. One thing is for sure Starmer will disappoint those of us who wish for a radically re-imagined modern Britain.
A bit like the Ukrainian counter-offensive we don’t really know what a Starmer government will look like. I’m betting initially on competence. If that works we might hopefully see some ambitious policies. Three key areas are housing, healthcare and the cost of living. He needs to make a big difference quickly in at least one of those.
Agree entirely on housing - a big housebuilding programme would be something new, useful and popular. The NHS will be a question of repair and upgrade as will much else in public sector.....cost of living will be tricky but hopefully BOE will do heavy lifting on inflation before election. Key is that Starmer thinks now about what he could do with a big majority ....
The problem Philip, although I agree with your analysis of the mess the country is in, I don't really share your faith in Labour to deliver the right policies, especially if they get a large majority, when factions will start to vie for influence - a hard-left version of the ERG for example.
IF something is very wrong, you must take action to fix it. Brexit is the great albatross on the Nation's collective neck. I cannot understand why all the Political Parties are so loath to reverse Brexit. Would it be so bad to have the next election pitched as the Brexit Battle, so that the party unseating Brexit can honestly say to the EU, our Country voted to dump Brexit, can we rejoin now.
Ultimately, the longer we stay under the Brexit yoke, the poorer the Country gets, and we are poor enough already, as outlined in Philip's excellent article.
One obvious problem is that reversing Brexit is not in Britain's gift..The other EU members need to be persuaded of a real and enduring commitment. A landslide for Labour would be an important step in that direction
The reality is that although support for Brexit has dropped, a significant percentage of the electorate still support it, and that applies to both main parties, albeit more to the Conservatives.
So if either party embraces a Rejoin agenda, their chance of winning a forthcoming election plumets. The Conservatives would surely be severely impacted with a significant number of votes leaking to a doubtless reinvigorated Brexit/nationalist party of some kind. The impact is not as clear for Labour, but they would face the possibility of failing to regain seats in the Red Wall. Why take the risk (and so much for the national interest...)?
I think they have to make the argument to Rejoin now, in a position of strength in the polls & Tories in disarray.
Uk/ Labour govt will/need the extra growth being in the EU/ Single Market brings. At the very least I expect a closer alignment with the EU, to facilitate easier trade, as well as rejoining Europol's database, Horizon, Erasmus.... & making movement easier between the EU & UK....
Labour will not be able to deliver the 'fastest growth in the G7' outside of the EU as far as I can see.
i agree that we need a new settlement in Britain as between the market and the public realm. I also think it is possible. But it will take a long time. The important thing is to at once signal the destination and provide something of a route map for the journey.
We have, collectively, been treated with contempt by the Tories, there is no doubt of this. However there have been many who having been willing 'fools', insomuch as they have failed to apply any form of critical analysis to their own motivations and relatedly those of the political elite. Fools then may be an apt description for the general behaviour we have seen in recent times. Sadly then we seem to have reached a low bar within the idea that politics should serve the general good rather than the select imperatives of the minority. In other words we see ourselves as atomised, self interested and permanently crippled in aspiring towards our egalitarian motivations. This is where we are now it seems and I frequently wonder if there is a way back to a saner, fairer basis for our economy and society. One thing is for sure Starmer will disappoint those of us who wish for a radically re-imagined modern Britain.
A bit like the Ukrainian counter-offensive we don’t really know what a Starmer government will look like. I’m betting initially on competence. If that works we might hopefully see some ambitious policies. Three key areas are housing, healthcare and the cost of living. He needs to make a big difference quickly in at least one of those.
Agree entirely on housing - a big housebuilding programme would be something new, useful and popular. The NHS will be a question of repair and upgrade as will much else in public sector.....cost of living will be tricky but hopefully BOE will do heavy lifting on inflation before election. Key is that Starmer thinks now about what he could do with a big majority ....
I only hope Philip is right
So do I!
The problem Philip, although I agree with your analysis of the mess the country is in, I don't really share your faith in Labour to deliver the right policies, especially if they get a large majority, when factions will start to vie for influence - a hard-left version of the ERG for example.
I am not sure we disagree that much....my message was that as cautious as he is in opposition Starmer should prepare to govern with a large majority
IF something is very wrong, you must take action to fix it. Brexit is the great albatross on the Nation's collective neck. I cannot understand why all the Political Parties are so loath to reverse Brexit. Would it be so bad to have the next election pitched as the Brexit Battle, so that the party unseating Brexit can honestly say to the EU, our Country voted to dump Brexit, can we rejoin now.
Ultimately, the longer we stay under the Brexit yoke, the poorer the Country gets, and we are poor enough already, as outlined in Philip's excellent article.
One obvious problem is that reversing Brexit is not in Britain's gift..The other EU members need to be persuaded of a real and enduring commitment. A landslide for Labour would be an important step in that direction
The reality is that although support for Brexit has dropped, a significant percentage of the electorate still support it, and that applies to both main parties, albeit more to the Conservatives.
So if either party embraces a Rejoin agenda, their chance of winning a forthcoming election plumets. The Conservatives would surely be severely impacted with a significant number of votes leaking to a doubtless reinvigorated Brexit/nationalist party of some kind. The impact is not as clear for Labour, but they would face the possibility of failing to regain seats in the Red Wall. Why take the risk (and so much for the national interest...)?
I think they have to make the argument to Rejoin now, in a position of strength in the polls & Tories in disarray.
Uk/ Labour govt will/need the extra growth being in the EU/ Single Market brings. At the very least I expect a closer alignment with the EU, to facilitate easier trade, as well as rejoining Europol's database, Horizon, Erasmus.... & making movement easier between the EU & UK....
Labour will not be able to deliver the 'fastest growth in the G7' outside of the EU as far as I can see.