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In this contribution, Maydan member Matias Nestore highlights the innovative significance of the British Labour Party’s manifesto for all progressive political forces: a declaration that succeeded in shifting politics from a debate between personalities to one between values. Matias, who holds a master’s degree in Globalisation and Development from the University of Cambridge, researches regional inequalities and economic policy in Italy and the United Kingdom.
A few days have passed since the publication of the Labour Party’s manifesto for the forthcoming UK election on 12 December. Dismissed by some as socialist fantasy or mere populism and hailed by others as visionary, it has been described as the most radical manifesto published by a major party in decades. It opens up the possibility of a change in perspective on Britain’s social and political structure, and beyond. Labour faces an election in which it trails the Conservatives by a considerable margin. The Tories’ strength lies in “Get Brexit Done”. Jeremy Corbyn’s party, meanwhile, has suffered from an unclear position on leaving the European Union, partly to avoid losing the support of Labour’s many Leave voters and partly because its leadership is highly critical of the Union’s economic policies. Much of the public, both Conservative and Labour, also considers Corbyn unsuitable to become prime minister.
Against these difficulties, the manifesto’s publication offers a glimmer of hope: not only of reversing the disastrous course of Brexit negotiations, but also of overturning years of political choices that have increased inequality. The quality of public services and access to basic provision have now fallen to levels unworthy of a “developed” country such as the UK. Published two days after the first election debate between Corbyn and Johnson, the document attempts to move discussion onto ground that goes beyond Labour’s two main campaign weaknesses: its ambiguity over Brexit and Corbyn’s leadership. On Brexit, Labour proposes a second referendum, with a premise that would seem straightforward common sense had we not already endured more than four years of debate and fake news: putting departure from the EU to a referendum only after negotiating a deal. This would shift the debate to a choice between two main options: Brexit with clearly defined opportunities and consequences, or remaining in the EU.
On leadership, a problem arising from politics centred on personalities rather than election programmes — itself, among other things, one consequence of the Leave victory — the party has sought to offer an innovative social vision rooted in clearly defined values, moving the discussion beyond “Corbyn: yes or no?” While the Conservative manifesto again promotes Boris Johnson’s ability to take the UK out of the EU, replacing Theresa May’s “Strong and Stable” mantra with “Get Brexit Done”, Labour presents new ideals, takes firm positions on the green economy and challenges the neoliberal common sense that has shaped political discussion for thirty years, under both the Tories and Blairite Labour. Radical change in environmental policy is not its only strong position. Reviving marginalised areas through retraining industrial workers, developing modern transport infrastructure, advancing workers’ rights and investing in education and public health all play a fundamental role in this new “old” Labour, reversing the direction of the New Labour that had gradually lost sight of them.
In a political landscape where the right is gaining popularity in outlying neighbourhoods in the shadow of abandoned factories, a willingness to take risks by proposing “radical” public policies for the most disadvantaged, and daring to ask the richest 5% to pay more tax, is essential. Several economists’ analyses identify weaknesses in the manifesto, which often leaves out economic detail on how the public funds would be raised, but praise its aims. Whatever the election result, however, its real value is that it proposes a paradigm shift in European progressive politics. It succeeds in taking strong positions and imagining goals that extend beyond a moderate repackaging of old welfare systems and faint-hearted attempts to address climate change.
During the election debates, opinion centred on Corbyn, his ideological positions and his actions. Now Labour supporters, and others, are discussing ideas, values and proposals. If other major European progressive parties could dare a little more, develop new passions and visions for their countries’ future, and make politics a debate between values rather than personalities, perhaps we would have a chance to reverse the tendency of many societies to become increasingly closed and aggressive.
1 December 2019.
