In the 1930s Antonio Gramsci, the Italian Marxist philosopher, warned that as the old order was dying, the new world was struggling to be born. In 2024, politics again strains, opening the doors to the chaos he feared. For too long, many have hoped that the rise of extremes could be ignored and the public would not be swayed. Following the US election, and as parties of the far-right gain support in Europe, all who cherish freedom must commit to fighting for a politics that unlocks talent not hatred. For us, that means the priority is the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
We cannot stand up for democracy and the rule of law if we do not value it – and the outcome of a ballot – even if we wouldn’t have voted the same way. President Trump must be given the respect to govern and the world must engage with him accordingly – but this does not mean we should be silent or complacent. In a cost of living crisis, a leader who threatens across-the-board tariffs risks damaging economic growth for us all. In a conflict crisis, a leader who sides with Vladimir Putin and encourages Benjamin Netanyahu to go beyond what he is already doing threatens peace everywhere. In a climate emergency, a leader who believes it is a hoax and green energy “a scam” endangers the planet for everyone.
