I never thought I’d write this, but every day it becomes clearer. During the pandemic, Boris Johnson was widely loved—he seemed untouchable, and everything was great in Boris’s world (except for the pandemic itself). At the time, I pointed out that this honeymoon wouldn’t last, and it was only a matter of time before things unravelled. The problem with Boris was his obsession with people-pleasing. He focused too much on the noise and optics, becoming a pure populist. But you can’t please everyone forever, and that ultimately led to his downfall.
Keir Starmer, on the other hand, has seized power at an opportune moment and cant even please the downing street cat. Boris came to power on the back of catchy slogans and a skilled PR team. Keir, however, has capitalised on widespread dissatisfaction with the Tory party and its disillusioned voter base. During the Labour leadership race, Starmer made numerous promises, and again in the race for Prime Minister. The problem now? Delivery. He’s been utterly ineffective so far and that looks it wont improve, because the plans are shit or planned by lobbiests.
Out of Touch:
While Keir comes across well, he might be the most out-of-touch prime minister we’ve had in a long time. He doesn’t grasp that the real issue isn’t just that he’s received donations from a multimillionaire—it’s the fact that this person could accrue such wealth in the first place. It would simply reflect better if Keir came out and said sorry and that more should be done to address the elephant in the room. The problem is structural: when the wealthy get wealthier, while the majority in the UK are struggling, the Prime Minister seems blind to this basic reality.
Who benefits from AI?
Labour is being heavily lobbied by big corporations, and they boast about attracting companies like Blackstone to build data centres in the North. But where are the profits going? Who benefits from these projects? More importantly, who benefits from AI, which threatens to be a job killer? These are critical questions that need answering. Will Blackstone be allowed to swoop in and buy repossessed properties during the next financial crisis? Everything in the UK seems to be up for sale, with no clear strategy to improve people’s lives.
Labours obsession with GDP
GDP is no longer a meaningful measure of a society’s success yet labour want growth at all costs. With an ageing population and plummeting birth rates globally, it’s outdated. AI and advancing technology will only exacerbate these issues, yet there seems to be no plan to address them. Instead of discussing GDP growth with corporations, why not offer an alternative: how to genuinely improve people’s lives? Neoliberal policies won’t work in this new era—Labour needs to understand that.
The UK faces some of the highest energy costs in the world. Why? Despite a significant portion of the grid being powered by renewables, household and business energy bills haven’t come down. This is a massive failure. Without affordable energy, the UK cannot compete, and if that’s not addressed, all of Labour’s policies will fall short.
These are the priorities Labour should be focusing on:
Labour should be focusing on improving public health by providing better education on food choices, starting in schools. This approach would have long-term benefits for the NHS, as healthier lifestyles lead to fewer chronic health issues down the road. To shape this vision, Labour should consult with experts like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who has long advocated for sustainable food practices. Additionally, figures like David Attenborough or George Monbiot could provide valuable insights on how to promote more sustainable farming in the UK. Addressing these issues holistically could create a healthier population and a more sustainable environment. These are the things people care about, not GDP.