INTERVIEW COMMENT CLIMATE SPRING Keir Starmer, Leader of The Future of Scottish The Fabian response to 2020 the Labour Party p.12 Labour p.15 the climate crisis p.24 “ WE ARE AN INCREDIBLE, UNSTOPPABLE FIGHTING FORCE, IF WE PULL TOGETHER. ” KEIR STARMER, P12 CONTENTS ADAM ALLNUTT IN THIS ISSUE

FROM THE CHAIR Editor’s Column P2

From nursery to youth wing P2

Putting culture at the top of the agenda P3 elcome to the 60th anniversary During this lockdown we have all had a W edition of Anticipations, our first chance to reflect on what the future holds, From church to classroom P4 as the new Executive of 2019-20, and the and I have taken the opportunity to think In the bleak midwinter of austerity P6 year so far has been an interesting one. about political activism. This time last I am immensely privileged to have such year Extinction Rebellion (XR) took to the The best of decades, the worst of a brilliant team around me, with active streets of London causing our Parliament decades P7 network committees and a talented group to declare a climate emergency but, Live long and prosper P8 of activists in the Young Fabians. unsurprisingly, the government still has We have embraced the ‘new normal’ not taken any meaningful action to prevent Somewhere ages and ages hence P8 with creative energy, moving our events climate breakdown. It’s the NHS stupid P9 and policy development online into the Changing the public’s perception on Young Fabians Zoom Talk Series. Thank issues through protest is important, but the Breaking the Labour Party taboo P10 you to everyone who has been involved; Labour party exists to seek representation We can bicker about policy all we want, but it’s been great to see so many people in Parliament so that we can have the it’s leaders who win elections P11 engage with the format. power to act. The two work hand in hand to So far, we have had immense success drive public opinion forward on important Interview: Keir Starmer P12 with audiences from across the country, issues, build movements for progress, and Is Fabianism dead? P13 and the world. In the past few weeks, we then deliver the change that is needed. have had fabulous guests including the The Young Fabians should be part of this Regulating Labour factionalism P14 first female Shadow Chancellor Anneliese – from driving the discussion and building Roses in the thistles P15 Dodds MP, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, ideas at one end, to helping the party to Thangam Debbonaire MP, Gill Furniss MP, deliver it at the other. A federal future? P16 Jess Phillips MP, Alex Sobel MP, Stella My activism in Extinction Rebellion gave Local power over public services P17 Creasy MP and Wes Streeting MP who me the opportunity to experience the have given their insight into their careers, sense of community that can be created by Great expectations? P18 spoken on areas of policy and offered their activists trying to create change. This is the How our health service has failed trans prediction on what is next for the Labour same sense of community I feel we have in people P19 movement. the Young Fabians, albeit with a different Workplace politics P20 This edition of our magazine is about approach. anticipations and reflections. Apt given My rallying call to you is step up, Iberian links P21 that as I write, we are months into the investigate, pressure, probe, agitate, Confronting surveillance capitalism P22 lockdown and we all have a bit more time articulate, and organise. Fabianism is on on our hands to think, reflect and plan for the rise and with it comes an opportunity The decade that decides our future P24 when we are on the other side. for us to grow. Cecilia Jastrzembska P25 Fabianism is on the rise in the Labour I want to end this note by saying a big party. For the first time in the party’s 120- thank you. Thank you to all our NHS and California P26 year history, a member of the Fabian keyworkers who place their lives on the Local is the new black P28 Society Executive has been elected leader, line to help us every day. Thank you to with Anneliese Dodds MP appointed as everyone helping our communities during the first ever female Shadow Chancellor. this difficult time, no matter the size of their This brings new energy in Fabian policy contribution. Thank you to all our writers, development and in building a united executive members and contributors who platform across the Labour movement. created this edition for you to read and EDITORIAL TEAM The new leadership of the party enjoy. Henna Shah Anticipations Editor represents a great chance for Young But most importantly thank... you. Every Carolina Saludes Creative Supervisor Fabian members to grow and develop our single Young Fabian member represents, Robin Wilde Graphic Designer activism. There has never been a better builds and creates our movement – Adam Allnutt Content Supervisor time to become more active as we connect especially during these challenging times. Nate Amos-Sansam Anticipations Sub-Editor with key shadow ministers who are looking I hope you, your loved ones and your to develop new policy ideas and hold this families are safe, and I look forward to government to account. We can be there seeing you when this crisis has passed.  to support them and be part of the push for Designed by Robin Wilde Design & Creative progressive change. robinwilde.me 1 EDITORIAL HENNA SHAH EDITOR’S COLUMN

elcome to Anticipations. The which is to provide them with political universal anguish and specific destruction Wroad to this edition began many representation. Government is not a nice of Coronavirus – we must carve out a new months ago, in a Liverpool St Leon to have, it is the only way we can work future. A future that can tackle the structural (not so well-known for its socialist towards a nation that upholds the principle inequalities of race, class, gender, sexuality credentials). We were coming off the of social justice, and tackles oppression in and disability as well as protecting our back of an historic election defeat, and all its forms. planet and delivering prosperity. the Labour leadership election was We can see the impact that power has at We can do this, we must do this, and just kicking off. a local and regional level. It can transform our excellent contributors have begun the Things have changed a lot since then. communities like Preston, provide new conversation about how we do this. Thank Coronavirus has transformed our lives, models of public service that serve people you to all of them and to all of the exec, and I would like to take a moment to thank not profit like in Wales, and ensure we can especially Carolina, Adam, Nate and Mhairi those people who have kept us going ­– keep our country together, like it would in who have supported me and this magazine our NHS staff, our cleaners, our teachers, Scotland. through this strange time and to Robin, our those who in work in our supermarkets, in This edition was compiled when the designer extraordinaire, for his eternal our warehouses or deliver us the things wounds of election defeat were still raw. patience and for bringing this publication we need (plus many more I’m sure I’ve Even then we were facing an uphill battle, to life. missed). far from the ‘Southern Discomfort’ of 1992. I hope this magazine will start a The Labour Party was created to We face southern, northern, Scottish conversation, and look forward to seeing represent working people. Yet we have and even Welsh discomfort. And now, your pitches for future editions!  consistently failed in our main duty, we have an even greater task – with the DICK LEONARD FROM NURSERY TO YOUTH WING THE FOUNDING OF THE YOUNG FABIANS he genesis of the Young Fabians was in 1906, many of its members later became the Young Fabians, and elected provisional T a weekend school for ‘Under Thirties’ Labour MPs, though it became notorious officers. which I organised for the Fabian Society, for the sexual endeavours of H.G. Wells. I don’t remember the names of anybody of which I was Deputy General Secretary, It finally petered out in the 1920s, when there, except for Jasper Ungoed-Thomas, in early 1960. This was held at Winston Fabianism was at a low ebb. and am not sure whether this is because House, where the Foreign Office centre, Soon after I wrote to the 60 or so his father had been Solicitor-General known as Wilton Par, was (and is) based. It under Attlee or because his name recalled is near the West Sussex village of Steyning, the words of a bawdy student song, “Oh Sir set in green countryside, and overlooked Jasper, do not touch me!”. I had kept Hugh by a steep hill topped by ancient earth- Dalton informed of what I was doing, and works, known as Chanctonbury Ring. he gave me one piece of advice: ‘insist on The director of the weekend school them writing a firm age limit into their rules’, was Hugh Dalton, a still vigorous he said. ‘Otherwise they’ll soon be run by septuagenarian, Chancellor of the 35-,or even 40-year olds.” I took his words Exchequer from 1945-47. He subsequently to heart, and the Young Fabians adopted devoted himself to encouraging younger an age-limit of 31. people to make their way in the Labour I was technically eligible to join, but Party; prominent among his proteges I decided not to do so, as I was about to were Tony Crosland, Roy Jenkins and leave my job and embark on a lecture tour many others who later made their mark. of the US, and to report on the Kennedy- A bustling extrovert with a booming voice, Nixon election. So I have no recollection of he performed his role with infectious the early days of the YF, or of its teething enthusiasm, and on the Sunday morning problems. But I was delighted to observe led the whole party up to the Chanctonbury attendees, inviting them to a meeting at its success, and very much later to see my Ring. the Fabian office in Dartmouth Street, son, Mark Leonard, elected to its Executive During the weekend, Dalton made to consider the possibility of forming a Committee. It has now lasted more than frequent references to his own experience modern version of the Fabian Nursery. three times longer than the Fabian Nursery, of the Fabian Nursery, of which he had been Around 25 of them turned up, and the and is still strong.  a prominent member in his youth. Founded meeting enthusiastically agreed to set up 2 COMMENT VICTORIA PARRETT PUTTING CULTURE AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA A SPOTLIGHT ON YF’S ART AND CULTURE NETWORK

n any civilised community the arts and votes. Labour’s failures are often not from a some of which voted Tory for the first time, Iassociated amenities, serious or comic, misunderstanding of policies, but instead, it’s not only infrastructure and business light or demanding, must occupy a cen- of the culture they come from. that are struggling - many in these places tral place. Their enjoyment should not be For too long culture has come last feel they have lost their cultural identity, regarded as remote from everyday life.’ when in our policy strategy. The creative often connected to long-gone industries. That was the thinking behind Labour’s first industries have recorded their highest ever On her recent appointment as the new ever Minister for Arts, Jennie Lee, and the contribution to our economy, yet the BBC Shadow Culture Minister, Tracy Brabin MP country’s first national cultural strategy, remains at risk of being dismantled. Labour wrote of the need to invest in local cultural which she oversaw. must be on the frontline of defending our economies. Brabin rightly points out that In the aftermath of Labour’s worst cultural institutions and economies. ‘we just need political will’ in order to heal election defeat since 1935, the left’s Labour has led the way in the past, the wounds of Brexit and invest in cultural position on culture should be at the core whether it was setting up the Arts Council communities. of our analysis. The more you understand or the Open University. As Brexit risks As a network, our aim for this year is culture, the more you understand the our creative economy and global reach, to broaden the realm in which members world around you. As Young Fabians Labour should promote a celebration of and the rest of the left see art and culture. we should be influencing discussions culture which reconnects with voters and As young thinkers, we should be the will and pushing culture policy to the front of improves people’s lives in a tangible way. needed to put arts and culture to the Labour’s agenda. Cultural change, both We want people to vote for us because forefront of national policy. We need to in the Labour party and in British society, they feel inspired for a better Britain, not acknowledge that for the majority, culture is integral to ensuring a future Labour just for fear of the other side getting in. isn’t just about art galleries and participatory government. For those left-behind communities, poetry nights. It’s about television, the There are crossovers between all internet, sport and the adverts we see areas of policy. But none transcends all everyday. By ignoring these, we threaten boundaries like arts and culture. Culture to leave ourselves out of the conversation is everywhere; it influences the way every and remain out of touch and out of power. person lives their life. Art and culture shape Culture dictates power. The left needs to values, define our society, and decide our recognise that it matters. 

3 COMMENT

ADAM KIRTON FROM CHURCH TO CLASSROOM EDUCATION AND SOCIETY

he danger confronting the English with other European vernaculars) and the Ttoday, is not so much indifference, as entrepreneurial scribes added the classics distraction’, and ‘our education has for a and knowledge of rare books to their long-time been too remote from everyday curriculum. life.’ Education in this sense was deliberately Those words, in the 1921 Newbolt elitist and backwards looking; the new Report, still ring true. And, as a secondary professional writing class wanted to school English teacher, while I’m faced dominate the curriculum and gain wealthy with many questions about my students patrons, not provide education to the progress, I find the more difficult question masses, and their speciality of Latin and is - progressing to what? Greek prevailed in the schooling of the Our understanding of the history of upper-class for around five hundred years, education has been distorted. Literacy from 1450 to 1950. Education beyond gives the historian their tools, and the upper class did not have to meet consequently progress has been measured Renaissance humanist requirements, by the development of print culture and so until the introduction of compulsory literacy. The Medieval past is still seen by many as a time of ignorance, illiteracy and barbarism, awaiting the enlightenment of NEWBOLT the Renaissance. RECOMMENDED THAT So how educated was Barbarian Britain, during the ‘dark age’ before the printing THE THREE MAIN press, and democratic states directing MOTIVES OF THE universal schooling? It is estimated that in England, probably more than half HUMAN SPIRIT ARE THE the population could read, though not LOVE OF GOODNESS, necessarily write, by 1500. Literacy was the means to access the TRUTH, AND BEAUTY. word of God, and in Medieval Latin, writing (scriptura) and holy writ (scriptura) became synonymous, along with office clerks education, individual schooling for prayer (clerici) and the church’s clergy (clerici). remained the foundation of European The architects of the Renaissance, literacy. The most literate societies in the professional scribes from Italian city seventeenth and eighteenth centuries republics, changed this. They established were rural, remote, and conscientiously themselves as distinct from ecclesiastics Protestant: Iceland, Denmark, Scotland, and professionalised writing in every and Sweden. sense: they were scriveners, law clerks, Between 1750 and 1850, the UK secretaries, calligraphers, prose stylists, population grew from about six and a authors, journalists. In the thirteenth and half million to eighteen million, and the fourteenth centuries, the Italian vernacular conditions of life of the working classes became distinct from Latin, (also seen evolved. In new industrial towns, the few

4 COMMENT

church charity schools could not meet price labels, transport timetables, forms, teaching, not a test-focus, to help children the increasing need for an educated instructions or even use the internet. The develop self-regulation and resilience.’ workforce. Schooling became ‘training in knowledge and skills necessary for our Successfully educated, disciplined children being trained,’ transferable to the factory current and future economy is lacking; are employable adults. floor. Philanthropic and religious persons especially in relation to a lack of training But the question remains whether our intervened but were inspired by only the for ‘low-skilled’ workers. focus should be employability. Newbolt most rudimentary educational ideas; to Battling today in crowded schools lacking recommended that the three main give as many as possible the ability to resources and staff, educators endeavour motives of the human spirit are the love read, write, and cipher. Latin and Greek to provide the ‘best possible education of goodness, truth, and beauty. He argued were not essential to the workforce, and care’ to our students. Ofsted’s 2018/19 that a curriculum should train a person’s and the vernacular European languages report highlights the heavy workloads, long will (ethics), intellect (science), and became the basis for widespread literacy hours, and impact on work/life balance and emotions (creative arts.) An educated mind and education. welfare. Newbolt observed the same, with can be both liberated or confined, and the So, what progress has been made? teachers not only ‘inadequately paid’, but benefits to society can be immense. There The UK is the world’s fifth largest lacking sufficient supplies to ‘keep them is a moral and philosophical element to economy. Yet National Literacy Trust in mental health and to have the strength education that extends into the fabric of research shows that in the UK today, necessary for their task’. our society; we must be mindful of this 7.1 million adults in England, (one in six) Ofsted’s ‘good education for all’ drive when educating the next generation.  have ‘poor literacy skills,’ struggling to wants to see a high-quality education, read books, newspapers, road signs, starting with a great curriculum and good 5 COMMENT

WILL BARBER-TAYLOR IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER OF AUSTERITY HOW THE PAST CAN HELP US TACKLE KNIFE CRIME

irmingham is, justifiably, one of the centre for progress. As Peter Jones states crime. B most recognisable cities in Britain. It in his book ‘Industrial Enlightenment: Sci- The gangs emerged in the first place be- is also one of the birthplaces of independ- ence, Technology and Culture in Birming- cause of tension over the police’s stopping ent, radical, socially progressive thought. ham and the West Midlands, 1760–1820’, of pitch and toss games on the corner of However, in recent years the city has be- Birmingham had a much higher rate of so- streets. Favoured by working class boys, come defined as much by a darker side of cial mobility than most other parts of the the game was viewed by the Victorians as its past as it has by its positive contribu- country. Through groups like The Birming- an example of a lack of morality. The denial tions to British society. ham Book Club and the Lunar Society in of access to any form of entertainment or Peaky Blinders is one of the BBC’s most the 18th century, Birmingham received a recreation led to increased boredom and popular shows of the past decade and reputation as a city of learning and culture apathy which helped precipitate the crea- follows the titular Blinders, led by Tommy that could propose ideas outside the norm. tion of gang culture. Shelby, in their quest for power, influence The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 al- Yet with the institution of clubs such as and ‘legitimacy’. Over the course of five lowed the city to become one of the first The Birmingham Amateur Boxing Club, the thrilling series Shelby and his family have to have its own town council – a well es- Birmingham Boys and Girls Club Union and risen from illegal bookmakers and racket- tablished institution by the time of the Blin- other such groups, violence died away. eers to become part of the British Estab- ders. Under the keen eye of Joseph Cham- The encouragement of association football lishment. Or, at least as part of it as a gang berlain, Birmingham thrived and many teams gave children a means of express- boss ever can. of his advancements such as improving ing themselves and spending their time in While the series has delighted audienc- drinking water and gas accessibility along- a constructive way. es, it is based on a dark and harrowing side the opening of public libraries and art If we are to learn anything from the way chapter in Birmingham’s past. The Peaky galleries created a thriving community that the Peaky Blinders were removed from Bir- Blinders were a real gang and the people was widely accessible. These institutions mingham’s streets it should be this: taking of Birmingham in the 1890s were as disil- were not wholly successful in reducing the away hope and opportunity is a shortcut lusioned and scared by the government’s impact of the Blinders; it was only through to creating crime. We can and should be failure to react to the crime that they saw greater cooperation between the council an aspirational society that values the lives around them as a result of gang activity as and individuals that this happened. of all our citizens. The people and council people are today. Yet, unlike in the televi- Birmingham Council and the people of of Birmingham improved the lives of their sion series, the real Peaky Blinders were Birmingham changed that in a number of young by being proactive and forward beaten not by a rival gang or by the machi- ways. As the author Carl Chinn argues in thinking. They showed how investing in nations of the establishment. Instead it was his excellent book ‘Peaky Blinders – The communities can reduce violent crime and Birmingham’s local authority and the com- Real Story’, it was through the establish- serve as a powerful lesson that we can munities that were most affected by the ment of boxing clubs, association football transform lives through local action.  violence that made the difference. and access to new media like cinemas that Birmingham had for decades been a turned the youth of Birmingham away from 6 COMMENT JEEVUN SANDHER THE BEST OF DECADES, THE WORST OF DECADES

ook back on this past decade from the EU. As a new paper by Thiemo Fetzer would have liked, but it is peace nonethe- L UK’s point of view, and it has been a of the University of Warwick shows, Os- less. miserable one. It began with politicians borne’s cuts to the left-behind led to an In the next decade, we can hope to who fancied themselves as Very Serious increase in support for Brexit large enough achieve world peace and end extreme Men in Very Serious Times cutting too to swing the vote to Leave and end his po- poverty. Hope, as the fourth great Amer- much and spending too little to combat the litical career. ican President told us, ‘is not blind opti- aftershocks of the Great Recession when But turn our gaze to the developing mism,’ but the insistence ‘that something the markets were practically screaming at world and we see a radically different, and better awaits us if we have the courage to governments to borrow more. more hopeful, decade. At the beginning of reach for it, to work for it, and to fight for it.’ The cuts hurt everyone, but the most this millennium, humanity set itself a goal We can hope for a world without war and vulnerable in left-behind places were hit – that we would halve extreme poverty poverty because it is something we can hardest. For decades, a crack had been by 2015. We achieved it. Globally, infant achieve. widening between prosperous cities with mortality has fallen to its lowest ever level, But this future is neither guaranteed nor good jobs and left-behind towns with stag- and life expectancy has risen to its highest. can it be achieved by developing countries nant economies, but the Great Recession These are more than just numbers – be- alone. In the next decade and beyond, the really highlighted this split. hind every million lives saved are a million fortunes of the developed and developing The subsequent economic devastation stories of unspeakable grief that will never world will no longer be able to diverge. led to more than just lower incomes. Eco- be lived. Every person lifted from extreme From wildfires in Australia to droughts in nomic desperation had a profound impact poverty is another life not spent desperate- East Africa, climate change now threat- on mental health, and increased rates of ly digging in the dirt trying to survive anoth- ens us all, and how we deal with it in the substance abuse. When Elizabeth Warren er day, knowing that a small change in the next decade won’t just define the next ten said the ‘squeeze is real, and millions can weather or the whim of a corrupt official is years, it will define our entire future. The barely breathe,’ it was more than just a the difference between life and death. fortunes of the developed and developing metaphor – in fact, in both the US and UK, A decade that began with the Arab world are inextricably bound together and life expectancy has begun to fall for the Spring and its brutal aftermath ends with we can only meet this existential threat by poorest, not seen since the Second World conflict deaths falling close to their low- forging a consensus between us to meet it. War. est ever level. Ethiopia and Eritrea finally I, for one, am hopeful that we can.  The left-behind struck back at the ballot made peace with each other two decades box. Trump was elected in the USA, pop- after their war began, the conflict in Syria is ulist movements rose across Europe and, drawing to a close, and fighting may even as a grim ironic coda to the entire aus- be winding down in South Sudan. It was terity program, the Very Serious George not the endless peace conferences, grave Osborne became the architect of his own condemnations or pacifist platitudes that downfall when Britain chose to leave the led to peace it may not be the peace we 7 REVIEW EMMA STEVENSON

REFLECTIONS ON HEALTH EQUITY IN ENGLAND: LIVE LONG AND THE MARMOT REVIEW, 10 YEARS ON PROSPER iving in the UK under the Conserva- in good health, while a man in Blackpool richest and poorest is a welcome one, but L tives has been bad for our health. The can expect 53.3 years. Most shockingly, despite the rhetoric of ‘levelling up’ we Marmot Review, 10 Years On, conducted by for the first time in over 100 years life are yet to see the political commitment Professor Sir Michael Marmot, comes ten expectancy growth has stalled, and for the required to deliver on this. Labour can’t years after his first landmark study. poorest women in the most deprived and afford to wait until they are in government Fair Society, Healthy Lives was marginalised communities in England, life to act. They must seek an immediate and commissioned by Gordon Brown in expectancy has been on the decline since earnest cross-party and pan-government 2008 to review how to address concern 2011. approach, working in partnership with local about widening health inequalities. The Professor Marmot’s findings signal a authorities in those areas with the greatest coalition’s response was its Healthy Lives, deepening of the north-south divide. inequalities.. Healthy People White Paper, and during her He highlights rising in-work and child In the same spirit which founded the short premiership Theresa May declared poverty, cuts to public expenditure, NHS, the challenge for Labour at the start health inequality one of her seven ‘burning a housing affordability crisis, and an of the decade, will be to champion a bold injustices’ to tackle. Yet the new report increase in precarious work, contributing and ambitious vision for bridging inequality shows that over the last decade the social to a postcode lottery of inequalities that is in all its forms, and to create the conditions gradient of health inequalities has become driven by austerity, which ‘will cast a long for an aspirational society which supports more acute. shadow over the lives of the children born and engages people in their own health, Wealth is health, and the social and growing up under its effects.’ enabling them to live longer, healthier determinants of health are decided by a The Government’s ambition for everyone lives.  postcode lottery. A man born in Richmond- to have five extra years of healthy life by upon-Thames can expect to live 71.9 years 2035 and to narrow the gap between the MATTHEW RANDALL SOMEWHERE AGES AND AGES HENCE

ince late 2015 Labour has been many different social and economic factors to create a better vision for the UK’s future. Sworking to reform the way in which come together in order to reorganise As we progress into a new decade, with political conversations with the electorate the way a society views itself. Any shifts governance similar in kind to those since are conducted. Rather than a hard achieved by the party under Corbyn did 2016, the need for bigger and bigger brush numbers and overtly ideological approach not come in time to achieve electoral strokes will only increase. the party has sought to put a human face success, but the Fabian society should be The ultimate consequence of to its policies. However, beyond what often a key driver in such a strategy, abandonment of a broad narrative for the comes across as well-meaning sound bites, If Labour is to retain this approach it must country is written large on our industrial it has been hard to identify a candidate in reevaluate how it sees the relationship history. Had the UK failed to seize the this party election who has a similar grasp between campaigning and power, in opportunity of industrialisation in the 19th of Gramscian ideas as McDonnell. It seems order to better realise that the former century then those new ideas would have candidates have easily dismissed the does not always have to lead to the latter. been central to another nation’s story party’s success over the last 5 years in As a movement we talk frequently about of prosperity. Labour and the British left removing the taboo from key ideas such listening, but how hard are we listening stand now faced by diverging roads. An as nationalisation and common ownership. when the conversation ultimately ends abandonment of the ideals contained The fact these are now seen as realistic only in asking for votes. To truly listen we within the 2019 manifesto, and those that options is a remarkable shift. need to empower communities to direct will logically be required to bring about Whilst these changes in the party are our conversations. a socially and economically just society impressive, the Gramscian hegemonic shift Paulo Freire reminds us that without a in the late 2020s, might seem a safe bet approach remains difficult to implement vision for tomorrow, hope is impossible. right now. But the rewards of a road less in our current parliamentary democracy, Since 2016 there has been a limiting of travelled, as in the end of Robert Frost‘s as even a little change requires a huge the conversation in the public sphere, famous poem, will be worthwhile.  investment of time. Under a Gramscian with xenophobia rife. In 2019, as in 2017, model, hegemonic change happens when Labour sought to paint with large brushes 8 COMMENT NOAH FROUD IT’S THE NHS,STUPID THE ROLE OF THE NHS IN THE 2019 ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ow did the Tories gain such a hold in a key moment which the Tories responded the NHS when asked about the Tories. H former Labour seats in 2019? Much to by dispatching Health Secretary Matt This is the same number that noticed it has been made of the division between Hancock North – an attempt to fight and in association with Labour. Perhaps even ‘leave’ and ‘remain’ seats, and the rea- win on the issue rather than kill the story more alarming for Labourites, an 89up/ lignment this is causing in our politics. or move the conversation on. Labour Pulsar analysis of social media and online The division between areas which have continually found ways to move the content found that the NHS was more been plugged into globalisation and those conversation to health, such as through associated with the Tories than Labour. areas that have been ‘locked out’ is all too the leaked documents on the US-UK trade The Tories didn’t need a decisive lead real, but it does not explain the 2019 result talks showing the NHS was ‘on the table’. on the NHS in voters’ minds for it to have entirely. There is a school of thought in political a decisive impact on the election. What For Labour to suffer in previously science which suggests voters pick parties they needed to do was to persuade voters safe constituencies, it’s reasonable to considering them that caring about assume it gave ground in previously ONE OF THE LESSONS WE the NHS was not a reason not to vote safe rhetorical and policy space. Conservative. In 2019, the Tories made sure that SHOULD TAKE FROM THIS In contrast, Survation polling from happened, making inroads into Labour’s IS THE CONTINUED POWER January 2017, when May enjoyed an geographical and rhetorical heartlands impressive lead over Corbyn, found 24 using prominent messaging before OF THE NHS IN ELECTIONS. per cent trusted Corbyn with the NHS, and during the election on the NHS to compared to 35 per cent who trusted keep economically-left voters onside and based on who they believe is competent May. However, this was unsustainable, ensure their messaging on Brexit could not and that different parties are held to be and by the time the election campaign be detracted from. competent on certain different issues. was underway, Labour was once again the Getting Brexit done was the key thrust of Labour is seen as strong on health, whilst most trusted party on the health service. their election messaging, but pledges on one of the Tories’ strengths is the economy. One of the lessons we should take from the NHS were vital mood music to the Tory In 2015, for example, the Conservatives’ this is the continued power of the NHS campaign. From September, press release constant talk of their ‘long term economic in elections. Messaging around the NHS after press release announced funding plan’, but also how economic growth was were far more prominent with voters in for new equipment, new technology and fragile and under threat, successfully Northern and Midlands seats seeing it as new hospitals, setting the scene for the supported their campaign. According to a tangible expression of competence. If campaign. Even if little of this funding this ‘valence’ theory, an election where the Tories want to hold onto these voters, was actually ‘new’ it didn’t matter, as it the NHS was prominent should have they will need to find a way of protecting created room for a discussion where the benefitted Labour. However, despite its themselves on this issue. Whether or not Conservatives sounded positive about the prominence, Labour failed to keep the Johnson can live up to some of the hype NHS. voters it needed. around investing in former Labour areas or The NHS figured prominently as an issue During the election, You Gov asked devolving power might well be irrelevant during the election itself. The story of the voters which policies they had noticed from compared to whether he can deliver on boy left on the hospital floor in Leeds was each major party. 22 per cent mentioned the NHS. 

9 COMMENT LOUIS HELSBY BREAKING THE LABOUR PARTY TABOO WHY A ‘NEW’ NEW LABOUR IS A PREREQUISITE FOR POWER

he essence of the December election alternative future direction for the country fertile ground for rumours to abound and T result has been lost. That is, if the re- that was open to all. While we were buoyed the grip of the taboo to tighten. Any new sults’ meaning was ever truly found. The by the occasional sympathetic voice, the leader must lift the haze and address how party as it was is over. hope was that other, more winnable, are- to clean and thoroughly polish the party’s Whilst campaigning for the Labour Party as in Bournemouth or Southampton would image. in Christchurch, a town on the south coast swing our way. Ideally, what is needed is a New Labour with the largest Conservative majority in The toxicity associated with the party Party. However, New Labour, after wars in the country (and perhaps its most embar- was not simply the result of the preconcep- the Middle East and the financial crash of rassing MP), the issues that our members tions of old Tories but were broad and en- 2007/2008, is over and cannot be revived and PPC wanted to talk about were smoth- trenched. The emotionally charged ques- in the same mould. Gordon Brown him- ered. Concerns about the environment, tioning the party faced was often divorced self has said that the ‘neoliberal’ economy low pay, and social care were brushed from policy. They were gut reactions, the within which New Labour operated, allow- aside by one toxic assertion after another ‘yah’ ‘boo’ signalling of A.J. Ayer, which no ing people to ‘get filthy rich as long as they as soon as passers-by looked up and saw response from party members could have pay their taxes’ has burnt itself out. What red rosettes. changed. is needed instead is a ‘new’ New Labour. Comments I heard were often some A Labour Party that is rooted in the expe- form of ‘You are all antisemites, the THIS VISION OF LABOUR riences of the present, not bound by the hard left are in control, you do not past or beguiled by the future, so that the have the money to pay for your poli- HAS KEPT THE PARTY mud starts to slide off and onlookers cease cies, why do I need free broadband, LOCKED OUT OF POWER to feel disdain. Labour are against democracy; why Three questions need to be answered do you side with our enemies.’ IRRESPECTIVE OF THE to break the Labour taboo and to create a The list felt both toxic and endless. LEADER’S IDEOLOGICAL ‘new’ New Labour. What is the purpose of A reasonable discussion frequently the Labour Party and what are our most im- proved impossible. For instance, one POSITION portant values? What policy initiatives and man said to me that he was disap- internal organisational structure are the pointed Jeremy Corbyn appeared to best vehicle to achieve that purpose? And lie about watching the Queen’s speech on This vision of Labour has kept the par- what are the necessary images, phrases, Christmas day. I replied that he would not ty locked out of power irrespective of the and slogans to draw the associations that have deliberately misled the monarch as leader’s ideological position. Whether Labour wishes to extoll? The questions Boris Johnson cynically did. He dismissed Brown, Miliband, or Corbyn, they have all are hardly original but they are necessary. this as irrelevant, unshakeable in the view fallen victim to its stranglehold. The taboo We have already provided answers but that Labour is unpatriotic. Canvassing near holds fast despite how low the country falls they have proved inadequate and failed to the local shops, such was the extent of one domestically and internationally, and grows convince. All three are existential, reflect- elderly lady’s disdain, that she could only in strength the longer the party is in oppo- ing just how deeply the taboo has taken muster “urgh, Labour!” when I approached sition. Older people, on the frontline of the hold. her. social care crisis, fear visions of Labour Whilst the party continues to discuss I often consoled myself with the knowl- as the factional spend-thrifts of the 1970s. personality and policy in choosing a new edge that, locally, party members knew we School pupils have never known a Labour leader, we must not lose sight of the need were fighting a losing battle in a Conserv- government and may become increasing- to lift the taboo that envelops us.  ative stronghold. Our mission was to show ly sceptical of the party’s ability to speak to our community that the party offered an to them. The party’s long absence leaves 10 COMMENT

MATT DICKINSON WE CAN BICKER ABOUT POLICY ALL WE WANT, BUT IT’S LEADERS WHO WIN ELECTIONS how me a good loser and I’ll show not about winning arguments, it’s about needs to be a strong one, with the ability to Syou a loser.’ An old sporting, rather winning confidence. Very few voters will unify warring internal factions. than political, adage, but one that neatly interact with their local candidates or study Too many within the Labour party and captures the cardinal comms sin committed their records. Even fewer will drill down beyond equate strong with male – and a by Labour in last year’s general election. into manifestos. certain type of male at that: big, assertive Good communication is founded on the Their research will often be limited to and rarely apologetic. We need a leader principle of seeking first to understand viewing clips on the news at 10, social who can bring people together and make your audience before seeking to be media feeds and Whatsapp groups. The them feel empowered and heard. The last understood. upshot being that their decisions are thing we need is more strongmen. But when British voters told us loud and primarily driven by how they feel about the Looking outside the party, let’s not clear that they didn’t want Corbyn as underestimate public appetite for PM in 2017 we ignored them. Instead of A COLD HARD FACT OF woman leaders in developed western injecting some fresh energy and charisma POLITICAL LIFE IS THAT economies. Thatcher and May are into the top of our ranks, we offered probably not the best examples for an more of the same. A world-weary man - PEOPLE VOTE WITH THEIR Antics audience, so consider Ardern gracious in defeat - wheeled out for one HEARTS, NOT THEIR and Marin. last throw of the dice. We need to question whether the The notion that he would increase in HEADS. spectacle of two well-spoken, London- popularity ahead of this year’s vote was based men of near identical age is really fanciful. The notion that he would lead leaders on offer rather than their policies, setting us up as a meaningful alternative to us to a parliamentary majority, delusional. beyond a handful of top lines. the Conservatives. Of course, our policies It’s as easy to agree with Blair when he That’s why the importance of leadership will be hugely different. But optics matter. says that the time has come for not just a can’t be overstated. According to Britain They matter a lot. “different driver, but a different bus” as it is Thinks, over the past four decades, every That loser aphorism is usually attributed to disagree with Corbyn when he says “we general election has been won by the to Vince Lombardi – a legendary NFL won the argument”. party with the most popular leader. coach who led the Green Bay Packers to The people have spoken. They don’t The Thatcherite policies that people five Championships in seven years. When want a will we/won’t we approach to Brexit. overwhelmingly turned out for in ’87 were coaches like Lombardi are faced with They don’t want the forceful state seizure very different from the Blairite policies that an unsuccessful captain who lose major of private shareholdings. They don’t want the public backed only ten years later. But, contests to a chorus of boos they drop closer ties with rogue states. on both occasions, they were voting for them sharpish. In a campaigning context, though, individuals who were masters of capturing Labour could do with following suit. bickering over policy is putting the cart how people were feeling at a certain point Because politics is not a game. And if we miles before the horse. A cold hard fact of in time. What voters thought – during an fail to pick the right leader and get back to political life – no doubt an uncomfortable election campaign at least – was less winning ways, it’s society’s most vulnerable one for policy wonks – is that people important. who’ll suffer for years to come. vote with their hearts, not their heads. It’s We surely all agree that our new leader

11 INTERVIEW HENNA SHAH INTERVIEW: KEIR STARMER

alking into the Unison building on but a real transformation in the party itself. ty is also bound up with that of talent. For Wmy way to interview Keir Starmer, For Starmer, two things stand out. ‘Firstly, many talented young people, starting out and the world was clocking off.Not so the way the Labour party broadened since in the Labour party is confusing, complex his leadership campaign – flurries of Zoom I joined in wanting to, and speaking for, all and opaque – and even more so if you calls and elbow tap greetings were keep- the equalities strands’, and the ‘expansion come from a non-traditional background. ing up the relentless energy of a candidate up to 500,000 members is an incredible Early in the campaign, Starmer put out a who had dominated CLPs and airwaves thing, to be the largest political party in Eu- discussion paper, a proposal for a Labour ­– until, of course, the dangerous reality of rope is an incredible thing. We are an in- party college. Yet, while a space for politi- Coronavirus emerged. credible, unstoppable fighting force, if we cal skills to develop and bursaries for can- Starmer introduced himself with one pull together.’ didates are welcome proposals, there are such elbow bump, as well as an effac- Despite the size of our membership, the certainly more structural issues at play. For ing apology about his diary. Something theme of (dis)unity and factionalism has Keir, a potential answer to some of these definitely more important than my fifteen hounded the party, something the cam- questions could be all-BAME shortlists, but minutes had taken his attention, but ‘apol- paign sought to fight, with key appoint- he’s unsentimental about the potential for ogetic Starmer’ was out in force (and far ments from across factional divides. He backsliding if talent is not a priority. more obliging than the ‘forensic Starmer’ sticks to the old adage: ‘divided parties ‘I was really struck by the fact that even of PMQs). don’t win elections’, ‘because it’s true… with AWS, we’ve only just got to the right There was plenty to talk about ­– the and we’ve got the duty to come togeth- level of representation at the national lev- campaign had seen Team Keir sweep the er and define the next stage of the jour- el…one of the concerns I have is that hav- board with over 350 CLP nominations, ma- ney… The leader of the Labour party can’t ing now reached an effective fifty-fifty at jor trade unions and affiliates all believing ask other people to be united if he or the level of MPs, we’ll think “oh job done” ‘Another future is possible’ – far from the she doesn’t model it every day. Do I think assuming one that would stay at that lev- Corbynista coronation many had expect- there’s a desire to be more united, yes I el if you took some of the issues like AWS ed. But first, in the spirit of our anniversary do. We have to defeat this factionalism, it’s out and I don’t think it would…Then you issue, I was keen to get some reflections going nowhere.’ go down and look at local council leaders, on his time in the party. Young members in particular have suf- Metro Mayors, and it’s the same old sto- His favourite memory? ‘The day we won fered due to the toxic nature of factional- ry as you get in so many other walks of the 1997 election, because I had joined the ism within the party. Social media is the life, which is that any genuine sort of rep- Labour party when I was a teenager, and Wild West of Labour Party discourse, with resentation or thought of representation then voted and that was the first time I’ve a devastating impact on the mental health just falls away.’ voted Labour at an election and we won. of young activists. How does the Labour Not an easy agenda for change, but one I’d voted Labour at every election, but we party solve its online abuse problem? ‘We driven ultimately by hope. ‘I’ve been gen- never won. Now whatever you think about need to be careful of the culture of the par- uinely struck by the mood of the members what happened in that government, good ty because abuse and vilification, particu- to turn a page… And that is much stronger and bad…it was an amazing moment…To larly on social media…people say things than I possibly felt it was going to be and actually have voted Labour and got a La- online that they would never say in a room that is really good. There’s a hope back in bour government. On that day I think the or to the face of somebody…part of being there somehow that we’ve got back in the whole of the Labour movement was full of united is tackling the culture within the par- last three months, that things are going to hope.’ ty and making it a space where people feel change and that we can move forward.’ I, The party had changed a lot since that they’re going to be valued, where they’re for one, am excited to see what forward day in May, and It was this change that I going to be heard, and they’re going to be looks like.  was keen to understand: the previous lead- respected.’ ership had seen not just election defeat, The question of the culture of the par- 12 COMMENT NATE AMOS-SANSAM IS FABIANISM DEAD? THEMES FOR A RENEWAL he Fabian Society was founded 136 ethos. intensifies in the coming years. At times, T years ago as a political organisation Last December proved that Corbyn may these themes might clash with each other, dedicated to answering the ‘how’ that not be the answer to the reactionary pop- but all are essential to forging a centre-left follows on from the ‘what’ of socialism. ulism of the current government, but the policy platform which can develop broad Since its founding, it has worked to bring rise of the British radical left, and recent support. about greater equality through gradualism impact of grassroots organisations like The Young Fabians internal culture has and evidence-based policy. However, amid Momentum and Extinction Rebellion, pose evolved drastically since I first joined in this current new wave of populism, a ques- difficult questions about the influence and 2013. With the expansion of networks in tion mark now hangs over whether Fabi- purpose of contemporary Fabianism. 2015 alongside their codifying into our con- anism can renew itself for another century. If the Fabian Society and its ethos are to stitution, members have been able to de- There are reasons to be optimistic about endure and survive, it will have to renew it- velop events and activities independently forging a renewed Fabian message, but self again for the context of the 2020s. The of the main executive. This has allowed for it is worth remembering that the Fabians statism of the postwar era and the tech- more organic membership engagement have been successful because of our abili- nocratic managerialism of the 90s are no and participation which, amid the polarisa- ty to adapt to changing times. longer relevant models for politics. Many tion elsewhere on the British left, has been The Fabian Society has been at the fore- of these debates are currently taking place a very good position for the organisation front of each era of success for progressive inside the Young Fabians, and I feel that I to occupy. and socialist politics in the UK. When so- have pinpointed what should be the three In the 2020s, the Fabian Society and cial democracy became a distinct tradition central themes of Fabianism over the com- Young Fabians of the future will have to from revolutionary socialism and syndi- grapple with these big philosophical calism, the Fabian argument became THE THREE CENTRAL questions to forge a new political con- that socialist aims could be achieved sensus of the left. They will also have through reforms by the state. In the post- THEMES OF FABIANISM to find a way to renew Fabianism and war period this view was reinforced by IN THE COMING prove that it is still a robust political tra- the Keynesian consensus, and many Fa- dition that can provide an answer for the bian ideas underpinned the work of the DECADE SHOULD BE big shifts and challenges that are now Attlee government. ENVIRONMENTALISM, taking place. Fabianism is not dead, but When that consensus collapsed amid it will need to transform if it is to endure. the stagflation of the 1970s and the bit- INTERNATIONALISM AND  ter disputes of the 1980s, the left slow- COMMUNITARIANISM ly came to an accommodation with the emergence of economic and cultural liberalism with what became known as ‘Third Way’ politics. Fabians were at the ing decade: Environmentalism, Internation- forefront of this debate with the ‘Southern alism and Communitarianism. Discomfort’ series and the famous 1992 These themes are already finding their pamphlet by Ed Balls advocating for Bank way into policy work with the recent envi- of England independence from the Treas- ronmental pamphlet Ways to Change the ury. World, and the communitarian themed A Today, after the collapse of that consen- Nation Divided from 2018. On internation- sus following the 2008 crash and the rise alism, Brexit will ensure that this will remain of protectionist populism, we need to look a potent topic of discussion over the com- again at our core messages. When I joined ing decade, and the Fabians should be at the Society in 2013, there was still a sense the forefront not only of defending our re- of the trappings of the New Labour era and lations with Europe, but also of making the an innate aversion to ideas or policies that principled and pragmatic case for interna- might appear too radical to be workable. tional engagement more generally. Those shortcomings were dramatically Each of these themes speaks to a vital exposed in 2015, first by Labour’s second constituency which the centre-left must shock election loss, and then by the elec- forge closer ties with if it is to win power tion that September of Jeremy Corbyn; again, and each of these issues will only a candidate who was a refutation of that grow in importance as the pace of change 13 COMMENT OWEN MICHAEL REGULATING LABOUR FACTIONALISM

t the end of last year sult might be just holding A there was some meetings entirely in secret discussion from some instead which could be Labour leadership candi- bad for trust in the pro- dates about ‘ending fac- cess. tions’. It’s not necessarily It is certainly the case clear what this means. But that it would be inappro- discussions in the past priate for party units to and regimes in our sister favour some such groups parties may offer a guide. empting other groups which rendered this over others in terms of ad- It is also important to differentiate be- approach legally problematic. vertising meetings, or even further (such as tween single issue groups that organise We could start with a register where with funding), as it implies disloyalty if indi- within the party to change policy e.g. the groups would have to declare their exist- vidual members disagree with them. Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform and ence to continue operating – putting them In terms of loyalty to the party, experi- broader factions. In recent years, the latter on the same footing as each other and ence with some groups on the fringes of have been more noticeable and contribut- avoiding the democratic concerns that the infighting suggests it might also be a ed to a culture where people are seen as come with secrecy. Registration should good idea to explicitly prevent non-mem- ‘with us or against us’. Worse are parties probably, unlike that proposed in the 80s bers (or at least members of other parties within parties, like Militant in the 1980s, or in Spain, be the default (to prevent the and expelled former members) from taking which expect the party as a whole to bend decisions themselves being a factional part or at least running these groups, as to their own will. weapon), but groups should be required to this threatens the party’s independence. Proportional representation in internal conform to minimum standards of democ- One rule abroad I’m not sure of is that elections where possible would help at racy (easy enough), transparency, and loy- the PT forbids groups circulating their pub- least break down the worst of the factional- alty to the party. lications or statements outside the party. ism by allowing multiple slates and reduc- The register itself would be a first step This would certainly have made sense ing the stakes of particular elections. The towards transparency of course – another pre-Internet, but nowadays it would pre- most likely system, STV, would also lead to would be candidates for internal office -be vent open discussion on social media – greater competition within slates for votes, ing required to declare their memberships. which might at least reduce flamewars, but reducing the incentive to act as a monolith. This would also give members more infor- would likely be too restrictive in practice. Beyond that we should regulate inter- mation on which to base their votes, and in I’m also not sure of how the old pro- nal groupings whilst acknowledging their particular, if single issue groups are to be posals forbade unauthorised internation- right to exist, accepting that having them included as in Brazil but not Spain, would al activity – whilst it shouldn’t go against to some extent is necessary for internal provide an obvious basis for members not the party, requiring permission in advance pluralism and therefore democracy, whilst aligned with a slate to vote across them, would again likely create a factional weap- keeping their behaviour within acceptable hopefully reducing the risk of a single di- on. limits. vide dominating everything. Overall, a move to regulate opinion Many of our sister parties do this – rang- It would also be sensible to copy the groups within Labour (and the border ing from bare minimum recognition of their 1980s proposals in requiring declaration should be that – we don’t want to insist right to exist by the Italian Democrats, of aims, officers, employees, membership any pressure group members might sign to detailed regulations as for ‘currents’ numbers, and accounts. up to should be checked out, just those or- in PSOE in Spain or ‘tendencies’ in PT in Going further than that, in the 1970s the ganising inside), whatever the exact rules Brazil. Ironically, it was previously consid- French Socialists required, whilst the PT adopted, would hopefully result in more ered in Labour in the 1980s as an attempt today recommends, meetings be open to transparent and democratic party culture, to provide a rationale for expelling Militant all members. This might sound like a good and make clear that we do cover shades whilst allowing other groups, only to be idea, but there are inevitably tactical de- of opinion, without reducing those to an us abandoned after pre-emptively declaring cisions people won’t want to make public vs them fight to the death over our soul. Militant would be in violation whilst ex- for understandable reasons, and the re-

14 COMMENT RORY MEGGINSON ROSES IN THE THISTLES THE FUTURE OF SCOTTISH LABOUR

he developing nar- poverty campaign is a T rative about last fantastic example of this. year’s election is very A renewed focus on clear. Labour lost due domestic issues alone to its problem in the will not win us power in so-called ‘red wall’ of 2021, but if we want to northern towns. What is be taken seriously as a completely lacking is any political force we need discussion of the party’s answers for how we will near wipeout in Scotland. use the powers of the Labour has a long Scottish parliament to and proud history in improve people’s lives. Scotland. The last Labour Scottish Labour’s plight government returned a has not been helped by parliament to Scotland the actions of the UK for the first time in 292 party post-referendum. years, and as late 2010 The UK leadership must Scottish Labour held 41 do much more to engage Westminster seats. The with the Scottish party on last ten years, however, Scottish issues, allowing have decimated the party. Scottish Labour union. Devo max would allow the people of them to take the lead. An option on the has slipped from a colossal force to a poor Scotland an enhanced say in their affairs, table is a formal split between the Scottish third place and looks set to fall even further. and keep the UK together. This could also and UK Labour parties. However, this is The activist base is tired, our coffers are create a framework for a more federal UK – difficult as it would effectively stop any empty, and we have no clear way back to empowering the nations and regions of the Scottish Labour MP being UK party leader power. We need to change radically if we UK who are exasperated with Westminster and therefore prime minister. are to survive and prosper once again. politics. If we don’t change, the party in Scotland A key issue is the prospect of a second The dominance of constitutional politics will enter terminal decline. Any activist will independence referendum. In the has allowed the SNP to hide from their tell you our average voter is rapidly ageing; aftermath of the election, Labour figures domestic failures. Their main priority most Scots simply view us as irrelevant. made noises about moving our position. of improving education standards has Scottish Labour must now prepare for The lesson of the Brexit debate is that on come to nothing. The children’s hospital the fight of its life. Having a strong retort major issues there is no point prevaricating in Edinburgh and the Calmac ferries are on the constitution and a focus on the – if you stand in the middle of the road you years late and millions over budget. The concerns of Scots offers us a way back. It get mown down. We must make a bold offer SNP has weak spots where the obsession will be difficult, but it is our only option. Our around the constitutional settlement, and with independence acts as a smokescreen party must now act with confidence and a legally binding multichoice referendum for incompetence. Labour politicians have boldness if we have any hope of returning with devo max on the ballot paper is now been at the forefront at holding ministers Labour to power north of the border.  our best hope of holding together the to account. Monica Lennon’s period

15 COMMENT

DANIEL ESSON A FEDERAL FUTURE? t should be a concern to all of us that communities (and the two autonomous cit- analysis found that procurement from insti- I our country is horrifically unequal in ies), have rights, powers, and responsibili- tutions based in Preston is up £74 million terms of wealth and its distribution. At ties distinct from the central government. from 2012/13. More detailed figures and the time of writing, the UK is the sixth The exact geographical boundaries analysis can be found in the joint report re- biggest economy, but among the most along which such administrative subdivi- leased by CLES and Preston City Council, inter-regionally unequal of the 30 OECD sions could be created in the UK are up ‘How we Built Community Wealth in Pres- countries. Many factors have contributed for debate, especially taking into account ton’, published July 2019. to this, most obviously Thatcher’s regime the distribution of the population in the Another example is that of the Scottish of callous pit closures and deindustrialisa- UK. Based on population and context, we devolved government’s work on land re- tion with no regard for the consequenc- could imagine this semi-federal system form. Building on the Land Reform (Scot- es, which impoverished the heartlands in to revolve around further devolution to land) Act of 2003, the Community Empow- which the industrial revolution was born. the governments of Wales, Scotland and erment Act 2015 gave Scottish Ministers For a long time the British left has been Northern Ireland, and also considerable considerable power over land. In conjunc- plagued by the assumption that we can devolution of powers to the English re- tion with the Land Reform Act they intro- combat this and shift the balance of pow- gions. In the interest of democracy, each of duced in 2016, this gave the regional gov- er away from London if we get into power. these subdivisions should probably have ernment the power to compel absentee or Unfortunately, without an iron clad majority, an elected regional assembly of some neglectful landlords to sell their holdings to this kind of serious economic restructuring form. A reformed House of Lords could be community trusts, often for the purpose of is nigh on impossible, and as New Labour a second chamber for the representation sustainable development. showed us, a powerful majority alone can of devolved governments. These examples show that, even with be a powerful tool for reform, but does not These aren’t just pipe dreams: across the limited powers currently granted to de- necessarily create structural change. If we our country local governments have been volved governments in the UK, radical eco- are to combat the stark geographic wealth leading the charge through experiments nomic change for the benefit of working divides in this country, a shift of constitu- in municipal socialism. The example most people begins at a local level. If devolved tional power could be a solution worth often touted is that of Preston city council, governments had further economic pow- considering. which has led an experiment in ‘communi- ers, the possibilities would be vast. Obvi- Obviously federalism in the UK would be ty wealth building’. Through worker-owned ously, implementation of a semi-federal unique to us. Britain is a constitutional mon- cooperatives, community development system would be a long term project. How- archy, and is probably going to stay that financial institutions, community-owned ever, future left wing governments should way for the foreseeable future. However, land trusts, municipal public enterprises understand that, in the long term, if we this is not an obstacle to the restructuring and various other methods, Preston be- want to shift the centre of economic grav- and redistribution of power. For example, came the ‘Most improved city in the United ity away from London, we need vastly ex- the Spanish model of a highly decentral- Kingdom’ in 2018. According to ONS anal- panded powers for regional governments. ised yet unitary state offers an interesting ysis, 4000 more employees in Preston are Indeed, it seems that socialism works best example. Sovereignty in Spain is vested in receiving a real living wage than when the when built from the bottom up.  the state as a whole, but all 17 autonomous project started, and the most recent spend

16 COMMENT OLIVER HARMAN LOCAL POWER OVER PUBLIC SERVICES THEMES FOR A RENEWAL

ake back control — three words hall to share, giving national government The benefits are not only green. These T which have defined the UK’s na- blessing and assistance for localisation to emissions reductions can lead to economic tional discourse for as many years. Their take place - vital if we are serious about re- development. One mechanism is through simplicity captured the desperate need for gional inequality. keeping local wealth local and not extract- reform, nostalgia of times gone by, and de- In looking at the future of the city, there ed by shareholders. Over half of Thames sire for control of communities. However, are lots of examples that show the positive Water, for example, is owned by foreigners. rather than talking about Europe, perhaps effects of local control over public services. Taking back control allows local gov- we should think about taking back control First, on efficiency, the benefits delivered ernment to return equity to public policy. closer to home, in our local services and by other cities are considerable. Cities in Labour’s free broadband pledge aimed to our local authorities. There is gathering South Africa, for example, receive almost remove the expensive cost of the ‘last mile’ interest in local authorities re-municipalis- half of their revenue from water and elec- of provision. Private investment finds the ing vital services from private companies tricity provision, after providing the poorest last mile of service provision the most ex- into the hands of citizens. This localisation households the service free of charge. With pensive, thus leaving certain citizens isolat- of service provision, much like nationali- many cash-strapped local authorities in the ed from networks. Localisation can remove sation, has widespread appeal within the UK unable to provide basic services, this this bottleneck. Chattanooga, Tennessee population. revenue base could help bridge the gap. took back control of internet services in This widespread appeal has translated Ten years ago, Paris decided to take back their locality. Subsequently, they were able into action, and since 2000 over 1400 cas- control of its water. In the first year alone, it to provide connections to areas previously es of ‘taking back control’ have occurred in saved €35m with the 8 per cent reduction not seen as worthwhile for private provid- cities across the globe, with over 180 cases in tariffs re-invested to stop leakages rath- ers. 2019’s promised windfall tax on fossil since the 2008 financial crisis. Surprising- er than flowing into shareholder’s pockets. fuel companies finds further manifesto par- ly, it is not our progressive Nordic cousins The bonus is not just local; the nation can allels — that of Blair’s £5 billion windfall tax pioneering this movement; a third of these gain. Evidence shows through moving to- on the privatised utility companies in 1997. shifts towards localisation have occurred in wards decentralising energy technology Like their fossil fuel counterparts, utilities the USA. Evidence from Switzerland shows and governance, national infrastructure too had excessively gained from the pub- taking powers away from the local govern- performance improves. lic’s basic need for power and water. ment makes communities less happy. Citi- There are also environmental merits. The merits of efficiency, environment zens feel they have less influence on local Local governments typically take a longer- and equity make re-municipalisation an at- decisions – localisation can reverse that term view than private counterparts. They tractive choice. Countrywide, wages con- trend. have different incentive structures which tinue to stagnate, governments continue to The appeal of localising public services lend to higher environmental investment. miss climate targets, and inequality is high to local government and local residents For example, when the city and citizens and rising. Perhaps May’s 2020 mayoral alike is three-fold: efficiency, environment, of Dobrich, Bulgaria took back control of elections are a point for change. It is prob- and equity. Typically, for varying reasons, their electricity, the investment in ener- ably a good time for cities and citizens, the privatisation particularly struggles at a lo- gy-efficient LED bulbs saw street lighting heart of progressive movements to re-mu- cal level. Unfortunately, in the UK local expenditure decrease by 47 per cent. Envi- nicipalise, localise and – take back control. government cuts have left local areas, and ronmental payback is not a European trend  we are one of the most centralised coun- either, cities in Mozambique, Malaysia and tries in the world, with power entrenched Mexico all have benefitted from localising in Westminster. For now it is up to White- their water supplies.

17 COMMENT MARIAN CRAIG GREAT EXPECTATIONS?

illennials are used to being la- many young people who want to build their more unaffordable, it is worth looking at M belled ‘entitled snowflakes’, ruining career, there is simply no other option. how much housing is being delivered. everything from napkins to marriage. If Sharing a flat with complete strangers is England has never built more than only we’d only stop buying damn avoca- an experience most young Londoners are 100,000 flats per year; at least three times dos, skinny lattes and fancy sandwiches, familiar with and is often the only way to as much is needed to meet the demand then we’d be able to afford to buy homes. live and work in the capital. While some get for flats alone. The resulting shortage of If only we made a few sacrifices and stop lucky, others can find themselves cramped housing drives up prices for everyone complaining, all would be well. into overcrowded properties without a and reinforces the wealth gap between Or would it? Rates of home ownership living room, making it almost impossible to homeowners and renters. As more and appear to be in terminal decline. As things have friends or family round. The effects of more people work in cities, the need to stand, one in three UK millennials will never living in such small spaces are still being provide more housing intensifies. Failure own a home. Things aren’t much better researched, but there is an increasing to do so risks a ‘hollowing out’ of city across the pond: in 1990, a generation of body of evidence which suggests not centres as affordable housing becomes baby boomers with a median age of 35 having enough living space is detrimental increasingly pushed further away from owned a third of US real estate. Today a to both physical and mental health. employment opportunities. similar thirty-something owns just 4 per The fledgling build to rent (BTR) sector Yet there is an opportunity right in front cent. claims to be one solution. Providers of us. The green belt in its current form Of course, there are those who argue that promise brand new furnished flats, secure covers 22 per cent of land within Greater we shouldn’t get too hung up on declining tenancies and public transport links. Yet London. ‘Car parks and wastelands’ are home ownership. Renting provides the all this comes at a cost – one scheme protected from development in outer flexibility of being able to move at short charges close to £2000 per month for a London boroughs – sites which could notice – although that flexibility also means small apartment in Zone 4; well out of the easily be used more efficiently by using that currently, a private landlord can evict reach of many young people, and that’s them for housing. their tenants for any reason with as little without taking the high cost of commuting There is some progress being made: as eight weeks’ notice. The right to live in into central London into account. As BTR Sadiq Khan has brought forward a ‘small accommodation without constant fear of grows, we risk creating two classes of sites’ policy, opening up opportunities eviction should not be confined to those renters – those who can afford ‘luxury across the city to deliver new housing. who own their homes. renting’ and those left behind at the mercy Transport for London has also been The spiralling costs of renting are an of rogue landlords. getting on board, looking to maximise the additional pressure on young people. It’s little wonder then that there is efficiency of their land by building on top of Many face an almost impossible choice growing support for rent control. While this tube stations. What’s more, 50 per cent of after University – move to a city with a may sound appealing, especially to hard- these new homes will be affordable. strong labour market but a high cost of up Londoners who are fed up seeing their Big problems need big solutions and living, or return to their home towns where salaries being swallowed up, the model our housing crisis will only be fixed by living costs are lower, but job opportunities tends to have mixed results. A study into the public and private sectors working may be limited and salaries low. the effect of rent controls in San Francisco together. At the same time, our generation’s It’s a dilemma felt most acutely in found that between 1994 and 2010, those ambition of having access to safe, secure London, where an average 20-something who lived in a rent-controlled property paid and affordable housing should not be can expect to spend 55 per cent of their $2.9bn (£2.2bn) less in rent. Yet for those written off as a pipe dream or a distant relic monthly income renting a one-bed flat. who moved into the city during this period, from the past. It’s the foundation of any According to Shelter, you should not spend they collectively paid $2.9bn more as a functioning modern society and we must more than 30 per cent of your income on shortage of housing drove rental prices up never settle for less.  housing, with any more than 50 per cent in general. classed as ‘extremely unaffordable’. Yet for To understand why housing is becoming

18 COMMENT SI JONES HOW OUR HEALTH SERVICE HAS FAILED TRANS PEOPLE

ver 40 years after the American or delayed assessment by months. Pa- right to be protected will then also be ex- ODiagnostics and Statistics Manual tients were denied hormones or surgery, tended to 16-year olds as the reform of the (DSM), a bible of psychiatric disorders, with many patients told they ‘weren’t trans GRA will allow younger patients to seek and 28 years since the International Di- enough’. As a result, a fifth of participants the treatment they need prior to turning 18. agnostics Bible (ICD) delisted homosex- in the study stated they wanted to self- It is encouraging that within the Labour uality as a medical condition, both the harm as a direct consequence of attending Party, two candidates for leader, Nandy DSM and ICD still list ‘Gender Identity a gender identity clinic. and Long-Bailey signed up to support Disorder’ and ‘Transsexualism’ as disor- In 2018, Stonewall released a report trans rights within the party and proscribe ders. on trans experiences within healthcare in transphobic organisations such as Wom- In the NHS, trusts are adapting the the UK. The main themes are long wait- en’s Place and the LGB Alliance who are ‘Rainbow Badge’ pledge to be support- ing times, a lack of understanding of trans trans-exclusionary. The candidate’s sup- ive of LGBT+ people, and are marching identity, and a fear of discrimination from port for these pledges later prompted ver- in Prides across the country. Yet trans pa- staff. Stonewall found that more than one- bal abuse at the recent LGBT+ Labour hus- tients are still receiving either suboptimal in-ten trans people surveyed were buying tings in Manchester from some audience or downright dangerous care, due to an drugs and hormone therapy online, with members. As the party that passed Equal- overwhelming ability to mis-’diagnose’ a other studies suggesting the prevalence ity Act 2010 and the Gender Recognition gender. could be as high as 58 per cent. Not only Act 2004, it can be easy to be complacent A culture of cis-normativity is embedded are these drugs not regulated by the UK about internal party support for trans rights. within medicine and there is a lack of dis- drug authority (MHRA), patients can’t be However, it is worth noting that Keir Starm- crimination between the terms ‘sex’ (bio- sure exactly what they’re buying, leading er did not sign up to the pledges laid out logical in definition), and ‘gender’ (relating to possible toxicity and death. by the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights. to identity). Not only is gender medicalised, One patient found that a disclosure of Additionally, the policy of the creation of it becomes eradicated once someone is an their non-binary gender led clinicians to same-sex wards is not logical or promotive inpatient, such as being assigned to sleep refuse treatment and suggest they seek of equality. Despite the logistical problem in a ward that contains other people of their mental health services. Similarly, a sec- of not having enough staff to cover one sex, despite their different gender. This re- ond patient described how they had to lie ward of each medical speciality, never moves the dignity of the patient and leads about being non-binary to fit a particular mind two, this policy is transphobic in na- to undue anxiety. Problems can also arise criteria, and once prescribed hormones ture. It forces people into a ward based where outdated systems mean the NHS they would take less than the prescribed on their biological sex, and does nothing cannot record anything other than one of dosage to prevent a ‘full transition’ and al- to address the issues trans patients face in two biological sexes, and trans patients low themselves to be gender ambiguous. the NHS. are forced to wear a wristband that may We must acknowledge these failings Politicians must commit to an overhaul of also contain their deadname, which staff and change. We have the knowledge at trans services in the NHS to ensure trans then use. Due to this lack of understand- our disposal to improve how we approach people get the healthcare they need. Cur- ing, it has been found that up to 28 per non-cis gender in healthcare. rently, NHS Wales, run by a Labour gov- cent of trans patients have experienced Going forward, a cultural change needs ernment, fails to provide a single gender harassment in a clinical setting, with a fur- to take place within our health service to clinic, with Welsh patients travelling over ther 2 per cent receiving physical abuse in safely and humanely care for trans people, one hundred miles to London. By training healthcare. and it starts with the reform of the Gender more specialist nurses and GPs in trans This abuse is underlined in a study con- Recognition Act (GRA). By allowing people health, more services can be provided by ducted by McNeil et al where participants to self-identify their gender in the same local GPs, with greatly reduced waiting were asked about their experiences within way people can self-identify their sexuality, times, and fewer unregulated drugs and NHS hospitals. Responses in general were we will eventually be able to remove gen- hormones purchased online. negative, with many experiencing trans- der identity as a medical condition. As the party of equality, Labour needs phobia, misgendering and a lack of under- The reform of the Gender Recognition to revisit both its culture and its policies to standing from staff, leading to increased Act should also recognise the existence of ensure good, safe care for trans patients anxiety and depression. Gender identity non-binary gender and allow it to be pro- before the prospect of forming a govern- clinics routinely cancelled appointments tected under the Equalities Act 2010. This ment at the next election.  19 COMMENT TIM HARRISON WORKPLACE POLITICS A ROUTE TO ACTIVISM IN THE 2020S

ince 2015, much of the energy in the sourced catering service. In late January, portionately likely to be in precarious em- S Labour party has come from young striking cleaning and catering staff forced ployment. This is the front line of modern activists motivated by the left’s radical the Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust capitalism. This is where young workers, proposals for a fair, inclusive and sus- to bring their jobs in-house, with associat- supported by trade unions and activists, tainable country. We can’t afford to waste ed increases in pay and conditions. can fight back against the unfair work prac- that energy. In the wake of the election, While the next Labour party spends the tices that disproportionately harm them. the challenge now is to translate ‘Oh Jere- next five years fighting a defensive battle There’s also clearly scope for young La- my Corbyn’ into ongoing activism that can against the Tory government, activists can bour activists to get involved in workplace drive the Labour movement forward. be making genuine progress on pay, con- politics. Despite the growth in party mem- ‘Think global, act local’ is an overused ditions and workplace culture. bership among young people since 2015, phrase, but it contains an important trade union membership among the message for the 2020s. Whatever your THE THREE CENTRAL same cohort has lagged behind. Last analysis of Labour’s election defeat, one THEMES OF FABIANISM year’s official statistics on trade union thing is unambiguously true: the next five membership revealed that around 3 in 4 years of government at the national level IN THE COMING union members is older than 35. is coloured blue. The parliamentary par- DECADE SHOULD BE Trade unions aren’t perfect. But a ty needs to push back on the Johnson workplace that’s democratically organ- government, but activists should focus ENVIRONMENTALISM, ised along progressive principles repre- their energy closer to home. INTERNATIONALISM AND sent the best hope to make immediate Some will continue the community or- impact and drive the left’s cause for- ganising efforts in places like Manches- COMMUNITARIANISM ward. ter and Putney. Others will get involved While the Labour Party clearly remains in local elections. These are valuable ef- a vital part of the progressive project, forts, but the place that young activists can This progress gives activists a way to we need to rebuild other institutions of best support the labour movement is at its reach out to people in our communities progressive politics if we’re to maintain the source: in the workplace. with an immediate offer. Gains we make energy of the last few years. The Fabian The workplace is somewhere we can will make real differences to people’s lives Society is one means of doing so, but it make change, regardless of the occupant and are an intuitive way to connect them to should go hand-in-hand with the rebirth of of Number 10. In recent times, unionised progressive politics. They can attract peo- trade union politics for young people. workers have ensured they are paid the ple who may be turned off by the idea of During this period of post-election re- London Living Wage in local authori- CLP meetings, the language of the left, or flection, it’s time to focus our energy in our ty-owned leisure centres and have done policy-heavy publications. workplaces. I hope other young people will the same in the Department of Business, Trade union politics should be especially join me, on the front line of trade union pol- Energy and Industrial Strategy’s out- relevant to young people, who are dispro- itics. 

20 COMMENT ALBIE MILLS IBERIAN LINKS LESSONS IN SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

t is easy to forget the crises that faced party that implemented most of the SGP to a likely twenty years in the political I the Partido Socialista (PS) in Portugal austerity measures, José Socrates’ role wilderness. The nightmarish vision of as it headed into the 2011 Portuguese in negotiating the bailout meant that PS battles between Jeremy Corbyn and Tom general election. In 2009, they had lost were still seen as the key architects of Watson, both now gone from frontline their majority in the Assembly of the Re- the austerity programme. Similarly, Labour Labour politics, is evidence of this. public. By March 2011, José Socrates’ gov- were vilified by the Conservatives , who In Portugal, it is the centre-right PSD and ernment had fallen and the country was claimed government spending contributed the conservative right CDS-PP who are facing a sovereign debt crisis. Despite this, significantly to the financial crisis in 2008. embroiled in internal political turmoil. The how did PS find itself in government only António Costa, however, has managed to geringonça has also pulled off the miracle four years later? walk a political tightrope that has satisfied of, so far, holding off a serious resurgence The answer is through compromise. both the EU and the anti-austerity base of the far-right in Portugal which Labour Despite losing the 2015 general election, in Portugal. Given his government was has failed to do in its heartlands since 2010. António Costa, the former Mayor of Lisbon reliant on hard left support between 2015 While there were mitigating factors such and current Portuguese prime minister, and 2019, measures such as a minimum as Brexit which led to the 2019 defeat, turned to the Communists and (CDU) and wage rise from €505 to €600 per month Labour has still not shaken its (unfair) the Left Bloc (BE) to form a supply and were crucial anti-austerity policy positions. reputation for economic incompetence, demand government. which will be a crucial factor in Labour The geringonça (contraption) PS HAS SUCCEEDED regaining power again. Costa and agreement between the PS, CDU and IN A HUGELY HOSTILE PS have shown that an anti-austerity BE allowed the parties to maintain their message and an ambitious policy project own identities and disagree in public POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE. do not necessarily need to hamstring but also led to fruitful policy decisions, THIS HAS BEEN THE ambitions of power. The inevitable including an end to the harsh austerity economic slowdown caused by Brexit introduced by the bailout. RESULT OF COOPERATION and an incoming global recession Since 2015, Portugal has also AND CLEVER POLITICAL could provide a golden opportunity for experienced economic success, not Labour to prove their ability to manage enjoyed by others in the region such as MANOEUVRING the economy effectively opposed to the Italy and Greece. Last year, it recorded Conservatives. its lowest budget deficit (0.5 per cent) in Costa and Centeno have also been PS has succeeded in a hugely hostile its post-dictatorship history – a remarkable on a charm offensive to attract private political atmosphere. It has leapt nearly ten recovery from the 11.2 per cent deficit in investment, particularly in Lisbon which percent in national polling since 2011, stayed 2011. has become a hub for industries such as there and left its opposition in its wake. This So, what can Labour learn from the telecommunications. While this has not has been the result of cooperation and success of PS? While the immediate come without its difficulties, Portugal is clever political manoeuvring. Neither have political circumstances of the countries are not a ‘bargain basement’, it has rejected been in evidence in Labour in recent years. different – EU membership is supported austerity and the PS have regained a We need to make similar polling jumps to by 92 per cent of the Portuguese reputation for economic competency. affect the kind of radical change we want. population – the underlying factors The past ten years have shown Labour A small country at Europe’s Westernmost remain the same. While the centre-right that gloating about who is right and wrong end is showing us how to do it.  Partido Social Democrata (PSD) were the – on both wings of the party – has led it

21 COMMENT

ALEXANDER HOGG CONFRONTING SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM

hree broadly accepted reasons have of surveillance capitalism. prediction and sales.’ A quest to get as T emerged to explain Labour’s 2019 Harvard Business School professor close as possible to guaranteed outcomes electoral rout: the unpopularity of Cor- Shoshana Zuboff, in ‘The Age of – economic, social, or political. byn’s leadership, the party’s equivocal Surveillance Capitalism’, meticulously What’s more, this trend will only position on Brexit, and a credibility deficit details the tremendous power that big accelerate as we move towards an at the heart of the manifesto. As Labour tech wields. If Facebook, Amazon, and ‘Internet of Things’, where everyday looks to the future and seeks to bounce Google offer us convenience never seen devices are connected to the web. A back, addressing these reasons has be- before; connecting us with people around commuter on their way home will be able come of paramount importance. And to view the contents of their fridge and if Brexit and the upcoming leadership BIG TECH PUSHES THE order missing items or choose a recipe election reduce the likelihood of the first right from their smartphone. two repeating themselves, attention will BELIEF THAT WHAT IS Now, imagine if the commuter has increasingly turn to the third. GOOD FOR BIG TECH IS health insurance. What if their insurer Labour’s credibility deficit was not buys the data on their consumption from the result of the policies themselves GOOD FOR SOCIETY the fridge manufacturer and decides to but the aggregation of those policies; increase the cost of their premiums – all public ownership of rail was fine by the world; enabling us to buy products because a fondness for ice cream is not to itself, but incredulous when combined with a single click; or helping us search for the taste of the algorithm calculating them. with water, electricity, and broadband. anything under the sun – all for free – it Or imagine an algorithm in facial recognition Addressing this credibility deficit must not is because we are the products. It is the cameras wrongly and disproportionality come about by exorcizing policies which reason why data has surpassed oil as the targetting ethnic minority citizens – address the challenges we face. In this most valuable asset in the world. Professor meaning they are stopped for questioning respect, Labour must demonstrate that Zuboff defines surveillance capitalism by police. This surveillance (or collection its programme is designed to meet future as ‘a new economic order that claims and manipulation of data more precisely) challenges resulting from the evolving human experience as free raw material for – if left unscrutinised – has the potential nature of capitalism, in particular the age hidden commercial practices of extraction, for immense harm. What’s more they are

22 COMMENT

already being felt. As the Financial Times’ it deliberately obfuscated the subsequent challenge. The role of big data and artificial Rana Foroohar pointed out, in her latest investigations is inexcusable. intelligence in the economy will only grow book ‘Don’t Be Evil: The Case Against Big If the attempted manipulation of US as more and more firms incorporate it into Tech’, ‘the American surveillance state isn’t democracy is an example of the gravity their business models. McKinsey projects science fiction – it’s already here’. of this situation, it is telling that the former that generated big data will increase by 40 Even Apple’s Tim Cook has warned of chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and per cent per year. If Labour wants to stay the dangers of unfettered surveillance Sport Committee, Damian Collins MP, relevant in light of the Conservative’s huge capitalism, saying that ‘our information was ousted by a fellow Conservative who majority it must take seriously the direction – from the everyday to the deeply promised to ‘work on issues that matter that capitalism is rapidly evolving in. If personal – is being weaponized against out in the country, rather than what gets Labour grasps this change and articulates us with military efficiency’. One of the good write-ups in Westminster and the policies which shape the public response, most worrying examples was Russian Media Guardian…’ He was referring to credibility will follow. interference in the 2016 US Election. The the committee’s previous investigations To begin, Labour must champion a Mueller investigation exposed how the into Cambridge Analytica and ‘fake global dialogue with like-minded parties Internet Research Agency – a Kremlin- news’ that shone a light on Facebook’s that explores ways to limit the destructive backed propaganda machine – was able role in facilitating Cambridge Analytica’s potential of surveillance capitalism, to reach a staggering 150 million internet nefarious activity and its inability to highlighting the way in which authoritarian users, targetting them with adverts appreciate the gravity of the claims. It was states, like China, have already developed designed to influence their vote and harm a clear statement that the Conservatives vast networks of facial recognition the Clinton campaign. are oblivious to the threats posed by data cameras to spy on their own populations. As far back as 1998, Google’s co- manipulation. It should firmly oppose such moves in founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, were In this vein, an insidious premise peddled Britain, as the Met Police begins to trial nervous about the potential downsides of by Big Tech must be confronted. This its own facial recognition technology. advertising and search. ‘We expect that is that the way in which data is currently As Britain leaves the European Union, advertising-funded search engines will be manipulated – through algorithms that are and powers in competition law and data inherently biased towards the advertisers trade secrets – is the only option if we are privacy are repatriated from Brussels, this and away from the needs of consumers’ to benefit from the gains in productivity or will become even more important and they wrote. If this can be said of Google, convenience that big data offers. Just as so too will international cooperation. The the same goes for Facebook. The marriage the underregulated financial system prior nature of surveillance capitalism demands between the vast amounts of free data it to 2008 was built on the idea that what an international response. Labour must collects from users and annual revenues was good for the financial market was lead a diverse coalition of democratic exceeding $70 billion in 2019 (more good for society, so too big tech pushes parties that care about and want to than double its 2016 revenues), mainly the belief that what is good for big tech is shape ideas and regulations that put data from targeted advertising, is ripe for good for society. transparency, democratic oversight, and exploitation. The fact that Facebook did In confronting surveillance capitalism, privacy safeguards at the fore. Such a task not put sufficient safeguards in place to the test for Labour is to formulate a will require imagination and ambition.  prevent this is cause for concern; the way set of clear policies on the scale of the 23 COMMENT MHAIRI TORDOFF THE DECADE THAT DECIDES OUR FUTURE WHAT NEXT FOR CLIMATE POLICY?

osing an election has consequences. The most recent COP in Madrid left many 2030 at the forefront of his reelection cam- L Our manifesto promise of rapid de- complex issues unresolved, including how paign. These cities are part of a growing carbonisation by 2030 was always going countries across the world plan to finance movement of urban areas across the world to be a Herculean task, but our failure to the transition and support vulnerable na- from Seoul to Los Angeles which are com- put Labour in power now means net zero tions in adapting to climate change. mitting to a sustainable future. even by 2050 is looking more improbable But while these big conferences attract The next decade could also see key tip- every passing day. the media fanfare, many are losing faith in ping points in the availability and afforda- The next decade will be crucial for glob- their ability to deliver meaningful change bility of the technologies we need to pow- al climate policy. The Intergovernmental over the next decade. The future of our er the green revolution. The costs of solar Panel on Climate Change has warned that people and planet may instead lie at the energy have already plummeted. It is now emissions must halve by 2030 in order to national and local level. estimated to cost only around $50 to pro- keep global warming within ‘safe’ limits. As On domestic policy the UK is also far be- duce one megawatt-hour of solar power host of the upcoming COP26 in November, hind where we need to be. We used to be compared to around $105 for coal. Devel- the UK has the opportunity to play a critical a global leader in climate change action, opments in battery technology - essential role in making this happen. becoming the first country in 2008 to pass if we are ever to see electric commercial Conference of the Parties - or COP - a legally binding emissions target. Over planes and ships - are also causing much brings together countries that have rati- the past 12 years we’ve made significant anticipation across the business and sci- fied the 1994 United Nations Framework progress in decarbonising our energy sys- ence community. Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). tem but little to no progress in key areas Concern about climate change is no The 2015 COP in Paris made a significant such as transport, housing and agriculture. longer a fringe issue. A recent Ipsos MORI breakthrough in setting a global target It’s also debatable how much the often survey showed 85 per cent of UK adults to limit warming well below 2 °C above cited ‘40 per cent reduction in emissions are now worried about global warming. pre-industrial levels. Since then progress since 1990’ is due to climate policy or to, This fear is transforming into action. Com- has stalled with no real pathway emerging as Greta Thunberg describes it, ‘very cre- munity Energy has grown dramatically over to meet this target or anyway close to it. ative carbon accounting’, which excludes the past decade with now over 600 local The most recent COP in Madrid left many international shipping and aviation. Our groups across England, Wales and Scot- complex issues unresolved, including how calculations also ignore the offshoring of land generating their own renewable en- countries across the world plan to finance our manufacturing - and with it emissions ergy and reinvesting the profits back into the transition and support vulnerable na- - to countries such as China. their communities. Vegetarianism is on the tions in adapting to climate change. Despite this gloomy outlook, there are rise, plastic-free campaigns are flourishing, Conference of the Parties - or COP - reasons for hope. The devolved adminis- and campaigns for more sustainable travel brings together countries that have rati- trations in Wales and Scotland are scaling are gathering pace. fied the 1994 United Nations Framework up their climate ambitions. The Welsh gov- The 2020s will be the decade that future Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). ernment passed the Future Generations generations look back on. It will either be The 2015 COP in Paris made a significant Act in 2015, forcing it and its agencies to the turning point we desperately need or breakthrough in setting a global target consider the impact of their activities on fu- the decade we decided not to avert cli- to limit warming well below 2 °C above ture generations. Glasgow and Edinburgh mate catastrophe. People across the world pre-industrial levels. Since then progress are going head-to-head to try to become are fighting for a better future. Join them. has stalled with no real pathway emerging the UK’s first ‘net zero’ city, and Sadiq Khan  to meet this target or anyway close to it. has put making London carbon-neutral by

24 COMMENT CECILIA JASTRZEMBSKA A NEW CLIMATE CAMPAIGN INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, NEOLIBERALISM AND LABOUR LEADERSHIP

t a climate event with Mutiny (a di- business with Paris Agreement climate tar- ship should be based more heavily on how A rect action group similar to XR,) I gets, going so far as to call the proposed far we trust the next leader to defend our found myself asking the question of why report ‘materially misleading’. planet. there is such a lack of knowledge about Paradigmatic change in the narrative has We need to call out CEOs publicly and who the key global climate criminals are. never been more necessary. Just imagine lay bare their destruction. Loopholes al- In a room full of environmental activists if the media covered the climate crisis like lowing companies to refrain from disclos- these names should have been on the tips it covered coronavirus. An daily updated ing their environmental plans must close, of our tongues: Amin H. Nasser of Saudi death toll, case counting, the governmen- and we must legally penalise those who Aramco, Mike Wirth of Chevron, Alexey tal response coverage and urgent lifestyle fail to meet targets. A rule is worthless if it Miller: Gazprom, Darren Woods: ExxonMo- change warnings. The Intergovernmental is unenforceable. Divestment needs to be- bil, and Roknoddin Javadi of National Irani- Panel on Climate Change found that emis- come the next consumer protest. Climate an Oil. CEOs of the top five contributors to sions from fossil fuels are the dominant action is no longer confined to the direc- greenhouse gas emissions, both private in- cause of global warming, to the tune of 71 tion given by policy makers – it is now a vestor and state owned. And yet no one social movement, with both economic could even name the top three. JUST IMAGINE IF THE and ethical imperatives. Investors in fos- The fault didn’t lie with us. It lies with sil fuel companies carry influence over media complicity and the lack of main- MEDIA COVERED THE one fifth of industrial greenhouse gas stream reporting on the devastation CLIMATE CRISIS LIKE IT emissions worldwide. And thus, so does these companies cause. It lies with put- divestment. After 26 years in partner- ting profit before planet; money talking, COVERED CORONAVIRUS ship, the Tate Modern has severed ties and the truth staying silent. A study ear- with BP over climate protests and now lier this year found that the largest five percent of global emissions, and over half features climate activists in its exhibitions. stock-market-listed oil and gas companies of those emissions since human induced XR are now setting their sights on Barclays, spend nearly $200m each year lobbying climate change was officially recognized who invest £85 billion into fossil fuels. Yes, to delay, control or block policies to tackle can be traced to just 25 corporate and even your bank is involved. climate change. state producing entities. The environment We have limited emotional capacity for Recent studies have documented that needs to become the locus of each and these issues, so it needs to be used effi- the fossil fuel industry has been aware of every political campaign; the epicentre of ciently. Not, as I have noticed, in poking the climate risks of their products since at voting decisions, not just a factor. Aspiring microcosmic holes of ‘hypocrisy’ in each least the mid-1960s, and that companies and incumbent politicians need to be hy- other individually, for example ‘you can’t sought to publicly discredit climate science per-aware that their election and re-elec- love animals if you’re not vegan’. We do while taking steps to protect company as- tions are predicated on their climate strat- not need a minority of perfect vegans, we sets from these risks. Organisations every- egies. need a majority to reduce their meat in- where are greenwashing; disseminating Whilst chairing a Labour leadership de- take. We do not all have Greta’s platform disinformation to present environmentally bate with the Fabian International Policy to be able to sail everywhere. Individually responsible images whilst they continue Group, I noted what topics were raised as reducing carbon footprints is brilliant, but to do business as normal. For example, vote determining questions. It was heart- we do not need to tear each other down BP launched a multimillion pound global ening compared to previous focusses, for not achieving ecological perfection. We advertising campaign, the largest it has in ranging from mental health, to housing, to need to unite around protecting our com- a decade, to advertise to customers that the gender bias holding candidates back. I mon home, and look at the big picture: to it was transitioning to renewable energy also fielded a question about prospective start with, we need to raise awareness of when in fact, more than 96 percent of its climate commitments, compared to Re- those 5 top climate criminals. Labour must annual capital expenditure is on oil and becca Long-Bailey’s instrumental role in be consequentialists about this; we are out gas. ExxonMobil has also just dismissed a Labour’s Green New Deal. Questions are of time.  shareholder proposal calling for the com- a positive sign of the issue shifting into the pany to disclose how it plans to align its limelight, but the question of our leader-

25 COMMENT GUILHERME RODRIGUES CALIFORNIA THE FUTURE OF CAPITALISM UNDER CLIMATE CHAOS

n April 2001, the Pacific Gas and Elec- access to basic goods by ordinary citizens. The market has created sophisticat- I tric Company (PG&E) filed bankruptcy PG&E, which currently has around 16 mil- ed financial products called catastrophe for the first time as a consequence of lion clients, openly admitted to planning bonds (see below), which allow insurance a severe drought, which impacted the to proceed with this practice in the next 10 companies to bet on natural disasters company’s capacity to generate hydroe- years. Ironically, Silicon Valley, the world´s against financial investors such as pension lectric power. The state of California was capital of innovation, is based in a region funds. These bonds are presented as an forced to take significant losses to guar- with a tendency to have power cuts. insurance mechanism but the 2008 finan- antee the provision of this basic service The story of California as a whole and cial crisis showed us that being ‘insured’ in to its citizens. Until it filed for bankruptcy, PG&E in particular is not an exception to financial markets may mean little. Michael the company had paid a dividend to its the rule. It is the response of financialised Lewis, the author of The Big Short, called shareholders every quarter since 1917 and capitalism to climate chaos. Shareholders this financial product ‘Nature’s Casino’. survived the San Francisco Earthquake of pocket the profits during good times (1.7 Moreover, the market resurrected private- 1906 that destroyed most of its production billion USD in dividends distributed be- ly-owned fire fighters who charge up to and distribution capacity. Three years later, tween 2016 and 2017), ring-fencing them 3,000 USD a day to prevent your house an agreement was signed with its creditors from future liabilities while consumers from burning; a business model developed and the electric company became solvent. and taxpayers pay for the consequences by Crassus, the wealthiest man in ancient The deal forced its clients to pay higher of environmental distress. It is estimated Rome. bills to settle PG&E’s debts and share- holders started receiving a quarterly div- ANY COHERENT PROPOSAL What are Catastrophe Bonds? idend until late-2017. The recent deadly wildfires in Cali- TO FIGHT THE CLIMATE Catastrophe bonds, also known as cat fornia (2017–18), which killed more than CRISIS CANNOT SOLELY bonds, are a financial product created in 100 people and destroyed thousands of the 90s that allows insurance companies houses, put PG&E under pressure again DEPEND ON TAXING to fund themselves in case of a natural as hundreds of victims filed lawsuits POLLUTION AND TWEAKING disaster at the expense of investors. against the firm. According to the Califor- Generally, this asset is pitched as an nia Department of Forestry and Fire Pro- CURRENT REGULATIONS investment which is not correlated with tection, its equipment caused 17 of the AS DEFENDED BY SEVERAL major macroeconomic or political events major 21 wildfires in 2017. As a result, the (e.g. an economic recession, central company filed for bankruptcy for a sec- POLICY-MAKERS bank decision or electoral results), be- ond time in the 21st century, which puts ing a riskier version of gold or any other the wildfire-related lawsuits on hold until that 2018 was the costliest year in terms precious metal and normally rated as high an agreement is reached in a bankruptcy of climate-related disasters in the USA, yield/junk by the major rating agencies. court. This time the bankruptcy recipe had accounting for 300 billion, around 1.5 per Cat bonds work as follows: an additional ingredient: preventive black- cent of US GDP. 1. A company provides insurance outs. The company cut power to 2.5 million The major opponents of state interven- to thousands of homes in Florida people during four days in October 2019 to tion to fight the current climate crisis are which have a high risk of being prevent itself from causing wildfires. This broadly divided into two groups that differ damaged by a hurricane; strategy of planned power outages shifts little in the economic structure they defend 2. The insurance company asks for 10 the costs of climate change and corporate for the society: the ones who believe that million USD from investors. These mismanagement from shareholders to so- the free market will promote innovation funds will be used to pay its clients ciety leading to the destruction of farming that will solve the problem, and the ones in Florida if a hurricane occurs. crops, business closures and limiting the who deny climate change. 3. In case of a hurricane: the insurance

26 COMMENT

by for government-sponsored depend on taxing pollution and tweaking compa- bailouts to meet their catastro- current regulations as defended by sev- ny does phe-related liabilities. Who eral policy-makers. In order to avoid an not have to pay would be surprised if Donald eco-austeritarian (or even fascist) capi- back the bond, in- Trump allocated public funds talist model with frequent climate-related vestors lose 10 mil- to mediate and settle disputes catastrophes, such as the ones emerging lion USD. in corporations like PG&E? Accepting cli- today in California and elsewhere, it is es- 4. In case no disaster happens: the in- mate change is likely to trigger new ideol- sential to reorganize the current economic surance company pays back the 10 ogies such as eco-austerity or eco-fascism: system. The set of policies must include an million USD and additional interest. defending immigration caps in developed expansion of state and cooperative own- regions affected by natural disasters like ership of key economic sectors such as These investments normally cover only Australia, Florida and California; promot- energy production and distribution; strip one specific type of disaster for some ing population control; empowering police out the powers of investment funds to in- years. If there is an earthquake and the forces and armies to manage and distrib- vest people´s savings (e.g. pension funds insurance company has protected itself ute scarce resources; and overcharging or savings accounts) in carbon intensive from hurricanes, it must pay back the the poorest for the consumption of basic sectors; limit credit to sectors that threat- amount borrowed plus interest. goods from water to transportation. This en sustainability; and downsize the powers In ten years, this relatively new mar- kind of rhetoric is already emerging, with and review the responsibilities or major ket has tripled its size to 30bn USD and Brazil’s finance minister saying that pov- shareholders and corporate management. currently opens around 10bn USD in new erty is the main cause of environment After more than 30 years of neoliberal- bonds per year. One may think that the destruction and the Austrian Chancellor ism on autopilot such policies may look creation of a product that transfers risks stating that immigration and climate are unreasonable and radical. However, even from your insurance company to a hedge the biggest threats to the Austrian society. Adam Smith would probably back some fund may be a good thing, but catastrophe Furthermore, the yellow vests movement of them. He was opposed to the current bonds could be part of people’s savings started as a reaction to green-austerity, Limited Liability Company (LLC) structure: through their pension funds. Also, the last when President Macron decided to tax fuel a design that limits the responsibilities of time financial markets developed a sophis- consumption, regardless of people’s basic shareholders and managers, leaving the ticated type of insurance (for the housing needs, to reduce CO2 emissions. burden to the ones who never benefited market) the global economy was driven to Climate change will not destroy the from the profits. In any case, no action at all its greatest recession since the 1930s. current economic system, it will only de- could leave us with a world no-one wants As the climate crisis starts affecting the teriorate basic human rights while mone- to live in.  profitability of certain business sectors (e.g. tizing every new phenomenon and scarce agribusiness), climate change deniers are resource on Earth. Any coherent propos- likely to start embracing science and lob- al to fight the climate crisis cannot solely

27 COMMENT JORDAN DILWORTH

LOCAL IS THE NEW BLACK MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM AND THE PRESTON MODEL

ith cuts ravaging local councils, a ish local government, and aim always at its cils. Preston has witnessed an increase in Wradical alternative is as necessary expansion, not at its contraction. the proportion of economically active peo- at the local level as it is at the national This political strategy must be reinvigor- ple from 70.8 per cent in October 2015 to level. The IFS reports that, on average, ated. Its modern incarnation in Preston’s 79 per cent in September 2016. By June local government spending on services community wealth building programme 2019, this proportion was higher than the fell by 21 percent in real terms 2009/10 to offers principles for how the considerable proportion in both the North West and the 2018/19. However, the pattern of cuts has power that councils enjoy can be exer- rest of the country. In addition, the produc- meant that spending per person in the cised. tivity gap between Preston and the rest of most deprived fifth of councils has fallen The term ‘community wealth building’ the North West gap began to close in 2014, from 1.52 times to 1.25 times the level in was first coined in 2005 by the Democracy and by 2016, this gap was eliminated. the least deprived fifth between 2009/10 Collaborative, an American think tank, to It is vital to remember, however, the local and 2017/18. These figures are bleak, and describe a model of working with a city’s conditions that allowed this experiment to Coronavirus has exacerbated the damage ‘anchor institutions’ – hospitals, town halls, thrive, and community wealth building is by hampering the capacity of local author- universities, and others – to use their col- harder to apply in councils that lack large ities to care for the most vulnerable. With lective procurement budgets to provide rooted public institutions with considerable Labour’s catastrophic defeat, and the pros- contracts to local companies that pay a financial backing. In most cases, hospitals pect of an economic depression, there is a living wage. The model was first trialled and universities are selected due to their temptation to spiral into pessimistic fatal- in Cleveland, Ohio and caught the atten- rootedness in the community and the un- ism. Yet, what this crisis shows is the im- tion of Preston Labour councillor Matthew likelihood of these institutions relocating, portance of communities – during trying Brown, who radically expanded the model but they are not available to all councils. times such as these, local structures are to apply it to Preston. The problem of this critique, however, the ones that endure, and it is local invest- Preston’s manufacturing industry de- lies in the fixation on ‘model’. Reflecting on ment that will ensure we have a thriving clined throughout the late-20th century, the lessons learnt over the course of their economy and society. when the recession of the early 1980s project, Preston City Council noted how A modern reinvention of municipal so- hit the area hard. It struggled to adapt the project should be considered more an cialism can offer a way forward. Although to this economic change and its decline inspiration than a ‘model’. There are core the left is often belittled for being associ- was accelerated by the financial crisis. In principles to community wealth building, ated with bureaucracy and large govern- 2013, however, Matthew Brown and Pres- but it is not a prescriptive policy exercise ments, this has not always been the case. ton City Council employed the think tank that can be applied everywhere. It is true In Sidney Webb’s 1913 Fabian tract, ‘What The Centre for Local Economic Strategies that not all councils have the same ro- about the Rates? Or Municipal Finance and to identify twelve institutions anchored in bust anchor institutions, but this variance Municipal Autonomy’, Webb relentlessly Preston and redirect their £1.2bn spending should not result in an abandonment of the disparaged socialists who marginalised lo- power to local businesses. Six signed up principles of localism, democratic partici- cal governments. in 2013 and spent £38m in Preston and pation in the economy, and community. In I pass over the despairing suggestion £292m in Lancashire, rising by 2017 to this crisis, our response must be guided by that local authorities should be “relieved“ £111m and £486m respectively. Preston ini- these principles, and the moments of soli- of some of their duties by the National tially sought existing local businesses who darity witnessed through the spontaneous Government; that they should give up their could win contracts, but since then the pro- emergence of mutual aid groups and local schools or their high roads, their police or ject has moved from simply advancing the volunteering is heartening. It is through their hospitals, or their asylums, to a cen- local economy to introducing alternative these principles that we can harness these tralized Government department. Let us forms of ownership by encouraging the moments of solidarity to radically reinvig- leave such proposals to the enemy. It is establishment of worker cooperatives and orate local communities from the ground curious that it is always the Socialists who public financial institutions. up, building back society for the better.  have to stand up for liberty against central The results are inspiring, and have been government. We, as Socialists, must cher- hailed as a beacon of hope for local coun- 28

The Fabian Window, located in the Shaw Library at the London School of Economics, was designed by George Bernard Shaw in 1910 to commemorate the Fabian Society. The Fabian Turtle is the international symbol of the Fabian Society, with the motto “When I strike, I strike hard.”

Designed by Robin Wilde Design & Creative robinwilde.me