Britain has been facing a period of stagnation that has left many feeling miserable. The recent parliament may go down in history as the first in at least 60 years to leave the average Briton worse off than when it began in 2019. However, the future is looking more hopeful, with inflation falling and interest rates expected to follow suit. Despite these improvements, simply doing a little better is not sufficient for the people of Britain or their next government.
It seems likely that the next government will be led by the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer, as they currently hold a strong lead in the polls over the Conservatives. The emergence of Nigel Farage and Reform UK as a challenger party has further increased the pressure on the Tories from the right. With the election outcome seemingly less in question, focus has shifted to what Labour will do if they come into power.
Labour’s economic growth plan, which is a key focus of their government agenda, may not be enough to fully address the challenges facing Britain. While the country may be fortunate to avoid further crises on the scale of Brexit, covid-19, and the Russian energy shock, the need for significant and meaningful change remains urgent.