The space opened in British policy

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“Does the last person who leaves Great Britain announces the lights?” It was the infamous headline of the sun, in 1992, which Neil Kinnock blamed for losing in the elections to John Major. This week, it occurred to me again when Kinnock appeared and raised the idea of ​​tax on wealth – which was not excluded by Downing Street. If the United Kingdom really returns to the 1970s, to stringing strikes and heavy taxes, and MFW visits, could we already quickly forward?

The difficulties of Sir Keira Starmer are not his own. But too many are self -control. Trying to get parliamentarians ‘desktops to support social reforms, Bully Boy tactics number 10. Rachel Reeves’ taxes caused brain drainage. The cave in winter fuel benefit, bunga for training drivers and other public sector employees, means that every group of lobby will now try happiness. If the rhetoric of “difficult choices” denied some; Non -compliance with any is even more.

The next elections are now available. And the space opened in British policy. The work seems to be closed in tax and issuing the extermination loop. Nigel Farage, leader of the UK reform, rejected his old libertarianism and made a decisive move to the left. Nobody is convincing now on the fiscal responsibility platform, height and entrepreneurship, offering a vision for which it is worth dividing the pain.

Many political strategies believe that there are no votes in reducing expenses. They believe that we voters will always prefer Magic Money Tree. I’m not so sure. Middle class taxpayers feel brutally squeezed. And voters want stability, not noise about bond markets.

Farage puts on that he can become a prime minister, based on culture and leaving economics. Calls to reindustrialization and nationalization of water, energy and railways. (Performative “rescue” Stal British Steel was a direct response to this). He also jumps a starmer with prosperity, calling for scrapping a hat for two children: which would cost even more money.

By attracting voters from both work and conservatives, Farage tries to resurrect the type of election coalition that overwhelmed Boris Johnson to power.

The irony is that the careless, cookies of Johnson’s reign created the possibility of Farage, as well as part of the mess that the Starmer government is trying to explain.

It was Johnson who brought a record number of immigrants (and did it without, in accordance with the public accounts committee, any appropriate consistency controls). It was Johnson who survived at Furlough, HS2 and a failed test and trace system, and which was delighted – quoting his own words in a different context – “favoring money on the wall.” And it was Johnson who weakened the principles of social welfare, carefully created by Iain Duncan Smith under the command of David Cameron, who led 1 mm to work in 2010–2020.

When Kemi Badenoch screams about the “broken” social care system, she should admit who broke it. He is right, demanding a return to face to face. But conservatives opposed the attempts of reforming both the benefits of prosperity and winter fuel allowance. If there were adults, a responsible party of the potential government, they should support him.

Conservative’s failure is tragic. Liz Truss destroyed the party’s reputation in the field of economic competences. Johnson terrified the public with his manifestation and disregard for the law. Liberal Democrats raised the old Voters of the Heartland track who voted and do not like cultural wars. And Farage is more convincing for immigration. The latest Torage receiver for the reform, Sir Jake Berry, says that he “questiones the old order.”

The circulating aspect of today’s Great Britain, which eats our national soul, there is a feeling that the system is falsified; That everyone is running away. Water companies have spent years, spilling sewage into rivers, apparently impermeable to adjust. Postmasters have still not received payment. Supermarkets and chemists are harassed by store residents, and luxurious apartments are built for international residents who barely set their foot in Great Britain, and the rent is priced. Some schools of special needs, another battle for Starmer, download 61,500 pounds per child.

There is a lot to be angry; But repairing it requires the level of skills of this government has not yet shown. Starmer is not interested in the details of the policy. I was told that at meetings he asks for solutions, not problems. But in our system, the most difficult problems end at the prime minister’s desk.

The use of public finances and increasing growth requires bold decisions. This means that large plants for several growth industries, not spraying too little everywhere. This means a change in the way we value electricity to help the industry, which would not deraise zero net. This means the end of the unbalanced pension of the triple blockade. If the working force, with a large majority and young electorate, cannot do it, who will do it?

Great Britain still has great basics: just ask every American who has moved from Washington. If our moros is undamaged with our actual possibilities, it is partly because we are tired of political drama. There is a hunger for stability and hope.

According to Luke Tryl, a great division in politics, is between people who “want to burn it” and those who prefer gradual changes. I would have competence.

Four years will pass.

camilla.cavendish@ft.com