Over the past 15 years, British politics has been defined by the tension between ideals and practicality. The right has dominated theory, bolstered by a supportive press, yet struggled in execution. Meanwhile, Labour has become pragmatic but uninspiring, clinging to a “leftwing” label while prioritising competence over vision. That may not be a flaw in itself, but polling suggests it isn’t winning over voters.
Yet Labour’s poor standing hasn’t benefited the Tories. Broken by their time in office, the Conservatives appear to be fading into irrelevance. They failed to address capitalism’s central flaw: that without government intervention, wealth accumulates for those at the top while many feel abandoned below. Instead, Tory chancellors pursued austerity policies, deepening social division and fuelling the discontent that led to the disaster of voting to leave the EU.
