Reform's politics of despair will not fix Britain's crumbling foundations

As the new year begins, politics is at a low ebb. There is despair at home, and chaos, crisis and fear abroad. Despite the slightly improving prospects of the Labour government, the UK still has an angry and unforgiving electorate, toxic politics and a hate-filled political discourse.

The often-hysterical politics of protest from the Conservative leadership, the Reform party and sections of the right-leaning press only rarely bear any relationship to reality. Issues and ideas are instantly catastrophised. No perspective is ever offered as political difference rapidly becomes deep division.

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‘Declarations of vengeance’

Meetings of minds seem to have been outlawed and common ground carries a ‘keep out’ warning. The low point of this political assault was the prolonged attacks on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with the decencies of political exchange replaced by poisonous outpourings of unreasonable personal abuse.

Borrowing a phrase of Pete Hegseth, the US Defence Secretary, “declarations of vengeance” are taking over in Britain as a new form of public discourse. Without some sense of cohesion and unity, Britain will continue to be consumed by this political civil war.

Keir Starmer’s government has made mistakes but is nowhere near deserving the current level of opprobrium. The November Budget gave the government some breathing space to correctly focus on the five ‘giants’ of the 1948 Beveridge Report – want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness – which remain just as relevant today.

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There will be no quick turnaround in Labour’s fortunes. They face exceptional circumstances, life is tough, especially for young people, and electoral tolerance is wearing thin. The calamitous Tory legacy is much worse than imagined, but Labour should have been alive to this and they need a plan.

Speaking at the Centre for American Progress, US Senator Ralph Warnock recently spoke about a “spiritual crisis in America, a time defined by deepening economic insecurity, growing social disconnection and widespread distrust in both government and, importantly, in each other”. This is Britain today, and it didn’t start in July 2024.

Our political meltdown has a long history and represents more than economic challenges. Healing and uniting our deeply divided country are the priorities, with resentment, revenge and scapegoating scarring and weakening Britain.

People and politicians remain prisoners of the past, unable to escape delusion, the lure of greatness and entitlement. Real or imagined history distorts our attempts to move on. Innovation in any form attracts controversy, while the electoral system exacerbates our inability to agree on anything.

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Dislike of foreigners

A country living in the past and lacking self-confidence finds change uncomfortable; the present is becoming a forum for poisonous rancour, but what about the future?

Labour is struggling to establish any unity of purpose or vision. There is no new story or messaging about how we achieve change and move forward. We need more inspired leadership from both government and the opposition. Cross-party cooperation should be seen as a respectable pastime that is deserving of greater focus.

The Tory right, Reform and right-leaning newspapers continue to pursue an agenda steeped in out-of-date Thatcherism and attacks on “welfare scroungers”. Immigration, a dislike of foreigners, crime, welfare and the EU remain high on the agenda of both Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch.

The right in British politics seem to believe that prejudice should never be wasted. In reality, Brexit and the continuing rubbishing of Europe – supported by Donald Trump – pose threats to our economy, defence, security and sovereignty.

The question ‘what kind of country do we want to live in?’ must move up our national agenda. It’s a sign of the collapse of serious politics in Britain that Nigel Farage, a Trump ally who once expressed his admiration for Vladimir Putin as a political operator, is being talked about as a future Prime Minister. If our hate-filled, protest politics endures, this could happen.

Labour must do better in shaping the mood of Britain, and engage on issues that impact the foundations of people’s lives, but voters also have obligations to democracy, our country and each other. When faced with the hysteria of anti-Labour sentiment and English nationalism that remains a threat to the stability of Britain, the country needs an inspiring message and greater clarity about its future.

Fundamental pillars

Tackling the cost-of-living crisis is a major concern of families. In the book, When Nothing Works: From Cost of Living to Foundational Liveability, the authors call for a more meaningful debate on ways to make life more affordable based on “three foundational pillars” of disposable and residual income, essential services and social infrastructure.

They warn that all three of these pillars are “failing as residual income is squeezed, services collapse and social infrastructure decays”.

This chronic crisis of foundational liveability has become acute for low income and middle income households in the UK and politicians need to move on from the narrow, binary argument about tax cuts or spending cuts.

A focus on a successful future requires political consensus. In a world of towering threats and opportunities, only a country with a sense of unity and purpose can prosper. Labour must rise to the challenge and ease the fears of great swathes of voters.

As 2026 begins, two things are clear: Britain needs a new political start and the politics of despair will never deliver a stable, prosperous and fairer country.

Henry McLeish is a former First Minister of Scotland