This post arose out of a conversation between Jacqueline, my wife, and me yesterday, although the idea had been bouncing around for a few days before..
The allegory of Plato's cave probably needs little retelling.
Plato suggested that the prisoners in the cave he imagined were chained so that they could only face a wall. A fire burned behind those prisoners. Figures passed between the fire and the prisoners, but all the prisoners could see were the shadows of those passing behind them. The prisoners, of course, mistook those shadows for reality because that was all they were permitted to see. Plato's point, for this purpose, was obvious: power controls what counts as “common sense” by fixing where we are allowed to look and what we might, as a result, see.
Let me apply that allegory to British politics as it is now.
First, imagine Nigel Farage as the figure that stands between the fire and the prisoners. He repeatedly parades stories designed to cast large, frightening silhouettes: about migrants, the failure of the NHS, crime, elites, climate action, and the threat from free speech and what he calls the woke agenda. His craft is shadow-making. His aim is not to reveal a complex world but to project a simpler, darker one.
Second, then suppose the so-called Overton Window is not a window at all. Suppose it is, instead, a frame in front of the back wall of the cave. We are told that the political thing to do is to “shift” it a little—left or right—while all the while still staring at shadows. That, though, is the trap. If the window is the means through which we see the wall, moving it a little in any direction changes nothing. That's because what is not permitted is what is required, which is turning round, which is what our media and political gatekeepers actively discourage.
Third, we have to presume that Farage's politics depend on our chains and our inability to see reality. He needs attention, and not accuracy; and heat, but not light. The more we reiterate his perspectives, endlessly debating his claims on his chosen terms, the tighter the shackles become. The prisoners cannot escape by arguing over the relative sharpness of the shadows.
So what are the shadows, specifically?
Immigration is one. The shadow says migrants are the problem: they suppress wages, cause the housing crisis, create NHS queues, and increase the crime rate. The reality is that low pay, rent extraction, under-investment, and precarious work are the deliberate policy choices that actually drive insecurity. Most crimes are also down. Blaming migrants is a diversion that keeps the neoliberal, rentier economy off the hook.
Then there is the NHS. The shadow says the service is broken because it is public and faces excess demand. The reality is that a decade of austerity, workforce erosion, PFI legacies, and outsourcing have hollowed its capacity. Farage's solution, which is insurance and charges, casts a longer shadow, seeking a two-tier system in which millions will be forced to delay care or go without.
Hanging over this is the echo of Farge's all-time favourite line, of “Taking back control”. The shadow insists the enemy is regulation and cooperation. The reality is that state-enforced standards protect workers, consumers and the environment. What we need to control is runaway wealth, corporate tax avoidance, monopoly power and extractive finance. None of that happens by staring at Brussels-shaped silhouettes on a wall and pretending they are the problem.
Climate change creates another shadow. The shadow paints climate policy as an elite imposition on people that cannot be afforded, that is based on a lie, and is not, as a result, needed.. The reality is that a just climate transition, creating sustainable and warm homes, clean transport, and green jobs, would lower bills, raise living standards, and increase resilience. What actually threatens livelihoods is the delay in taking action on climate change, not action.
On crime and disorder, the shadow focuses on punishment but never on the investment that might reduce and prevent crime, or prevent re-offending. The reality is that secure housing, decent incomes, community services and mental health support cut harm far more than performative crackdowns.
And then there is wokeness - the core Farage claim, which suggests that we must not turn around, because if we did, we would be filled with concern for others, for reality, for truth-seeking and the improvement of our position, to all of which Farage is opposed.
In each case, the shadow replaces structural analysis with scapegoats. It turns solidarity into suspicion and substitutes private grievances for public solutions. It is designed to keep us looking backwards.
There are a number of implications of this thinking.
Firstly, we do not need to move the Overton Window. We need to look in a different direction altogether. The window, as currently mounted, guarantees that only shadows enter the frame. Turning around -literally reorienting public conversation - is the act that matters.
Secondly, sunlight is the best disinfectant. By this, I mean that evidence, transparency, and lived reality are what we should be focusing on, rather than the shadows. Talk about the facts on wealth distributions, housing insecurity, energy bills, NHS waiting-time causes, and who profits. By illuminating systems, the opportunity to scapegoats fades.
Thirdly, refuse the frame. Stop repeating Farage's language as if his premises were neutral. If the question is “how tough shall we be on migrants?” you are already in the cave. The right question is “how do we build an economy that delivers secure incomes, homes and services for all?” That is outside it.
Fourthly, accountability must replace outrage as the engine of debate. Outrage points at the shadow and shouts. Accountability requires that we turn to the fire and address the issues of media ownership and influence, money-driven lobbying and political donations and ask who drives those agendas and to what end, and what they cost us all.
Fifthly, the politics of care is not a soft alternative to complex reality; it is reality. Human interdependence is not sentiment. It is the operating system of any society that works. Decent health, education, social care, housing, clean energy, public transport, and livable incomes: these are the sunlight by which people can actually see and act.
Sixthly, we must acknowledge that our media economy keeps the cave furnished. Algorithmic amplification of indignation and a Westminster lobby addicted to theatre mean the wall is always well-lit. Democratic media reform is not an add-on; it is essential to a better society in which we can really see the world beyond the cave.
What, then, follows in practice?
- We need to break the chains. Guaranteeing material security that frees people from manipulation, whether it be by universal basic services, a living income floor, rent controls and social housebuilding, restored local services, and investment in NHS capacity and staff, is essential.
- Turn to the fire and address the problems created by wealth concentration, money and power. We must tax wealth properly; end corporate secrecy; require country-by-country reporting; close the loopholes that let rent extraction look like entrepreneurship, and rebuild fiscal capacity so that government can plan, invest and care.
- Walk outside, see the world as it is, and tackle the climate change that is afflicting it by delivering clean power, low-energy public transport, and warm homes whilst repairing and retrofitting industry, with all of it based on decent jobs and regional equity.
- Change the viewing angle by delivering electoral reform and local empowerment so that politics is something we do, not something done to us. If people can only watch, they will watch shadows.
- Reframe migration as what it is: part of a connected world and a modern economy. As a result, we should invest where pressure is felt, in housing, schools, and GP practices, so that communities welcome newcomers because their own needs are met.
- And we must demand media that serves democracy. Public funding models for independent journalism, rules that put accuracy above engagement bait, and stronger antitrust enforcement in this sector are essential.
The conclusion from all this is simple. Farage thrives in the cave. He needs the fire behind our backs and the Overton window fixed to the wall. He wants us to argue about silhouettes because the real world, of care, shared prosperity, accountability and climate responsibility, would dissolve his act in daylight.
We do not have to play our politics staring at a screen of shadows. We can turn around. We can see the fire for what it is and walk out into the sun. And when we do, the agenda changes: from blame to repair, from extraction to investment, from grievance to dignity. That is what funding the future requires.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Let's open the cave, step outside, and get on with the work of care.
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[…] me put this in the context of the piece I have published this morning on Plate, the cave and the Overton […]
Hmmm good stuff – then the cave to me is the digital one we are encouraged to use all of the time; even the TV plays a part too. As you have said, ‘management by walking about’ is what helps connect us to reality – certainly in my job I cannot manage it through a laptop alone – you have to get out there. Working from home in my local authority just seems to reinforce an unrealistic view of what we are doing. Health and Safety for example is supposed to be the management of risks. You can imagine risks but also you have to go to the place and see them for your self and do ‘gemba’ as the Japanese call it go to ‘the real place’ in order to see what is happening, engage with others and view improvements and problem solving up close and personal.
All our politicians do is go the ‘the real place’ for a photo opportunity, then go back to Westminster and sell us off to the privateers because that is what they have been bribed to do.
I created this scenario for a bit of dark laughter the other day. Imagine if Reform is our next government and overnight they ban indefinite leave to stay. Then over the next coming weeks, what would dumb Reform voters be thinking when there was a knock on the door and outside was the local care home returning granny or an elderly patient or an NHS out patient back to their relations because many of the staff looking after them have to get out the country? I wonder what the Reform voters would think then? Would there be an epiphany? As with BREXIT, AFTER the fact (too late my son!!)?
We’re a sad lot these days aren’t we?
The thing is our politicians don’t bother to look because they have already had their minds made up for them by capital who want it all, and by all accounts seem to be getting it. That is the authoritarianism behind the authoritarianism we are dealing with – market authoritarianism.
Amid much to agree with this morning, this phrase stands out: “endlessly debating his claims on his chosen terms”
Exactly – his chosen terms.
It’s a mistake to tackle Farage by coming down to his level and trying to refute his ‘arguments’. Rather, the aim should be to make him unnecessary and irrelevant by addressing the issues behind why he has appeal.
The actions you advocate in this post (and throughout your posts) will do just that.
If only Starmer and others were able to see that. Maybe Burnham can, but he’s a long way from being PM, or even very influential over Labour’s policies and direction.
(Incidentally, I and colleagues cited the parable of the cave in discussions related to managing chemical manufacturing processes when I was in industry – it’s a remarkably widely applicable concept!)
Thanks
Absolutely brilliant. Put’s me in mind of the wonderful Balinese shadow puppets which uses a flame; but the Westminster shadow puppet show is without any Hindu wisdom.
Inside the cave – who can be the nastiest attack dog against – woke, welfare claimants, immigrants – currently Labour has outdone Farage with it’s uber authoritarian ‘compliant environment’ ID card.
Interesting read https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/60956/documents/6548 signed off by Angela Eagle, she’s not interested in stepping out the cave into the sunlight actually dissolving the gig economy , even though her own impact assessment shows
‘the most recent HMRC estimate indicates that 5 per cent of the UK working population work in the gig economy, equating to around 1.6
million people.’
Agree we must call out the Westminster shadow puppet show, step outside into the sunlight; hold neoliberalism and it’s revolting normalisation of the gig economy up to the light, and see it for what it is, a divisive trick which allows corporates to suck in and exploit cheap, powerless labour, whilst the corporate politicians agitate about lazy British workers, and immigrants stealing jobs, houses etc.
(I found this gig economy summary useful link https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/reference/how-might-deregulation-of-the-labour-market-lead-to-a-rise-in-relative-poverty-in-a-country-such-as-the-uk?srsltid=AfmBOop4-mwA-gCutkSUv4wfu0D_DoZ4BOxNAnuJMMdZaBv7UdSEIsR)
Thank you for such insightful posts. 🙂
Agree 100% with everything you say. Just one problem, as you suggest: the people who control the money and the media don’t want the light to shine and fear facts and accountability more than anything. They have the means to shut down or misrepresent anything that seriously challenges the shadow image they have created, as many honest journalists and politicians have found to their cost. So yes, we need open and honest discussion rather than the secrecy and lies that pervade public life and politics. But how do we get it when all the power is with those who oppose it?
Social media
We talk to each other
We use subversion
If in 1649 the Crown was overthrown as a result of the work of pamphleteers then we can consign neoliberalism to hoistory, surely? Isn’t that what social media is for?
Brilliant. Totally agree.
If this is not a manifesto that a progressive coalition should adopt then it’s an excellent starting point.
Craig
Thanks
Brilliant analogies. This could be kept as a “pinned post” on this blog (as per Twitter, etc); it frames our reality succinctly and shows the way out of the cave. Thank you.
Thanks
Excellent post, thanks. Should be required reading for all Labour MPs.
One of the faster growing petitions to government at the moment is this: “Introduce offshore detention/mass deportation for illegal migrants” (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/737105). It was created by Rupert Lowe (former Reform MP, now sitting as an independent). This is obvious sh*t stirring, but I don’t understand why an MP is allowed to petition, and attempt to influence, government through this channel, which was set up for the public to use. His position in Parliament, even as an independent, gives him more direct and privileged access to policy makers, but that presumably is not his goal here.
Thank you.
And it’s an interesting petition: there are no illegal migrants to the UK.
Brilliant, thank you and your contributors Richard.
Thanks
Excellent synopsis
Irregular immigration is c.4% of total immigration numbers
Imagine if Labour, Lib Dem’s, BBC etc talked about this group as ‘ the 4%’ that might shine some transparency on the threat (or not) this group poses
I completely agree.
It’s a very good representation of what is happening here in the UK and, of course, the USA where it is much more up front.
In politics, two phrases that might be applied to such situations.
The first by Abraham Lincoln: You can’t fool all of the people all of the time. I wonder if that still applies in the era of social media? If it does, people will eventually see through Trump and other would-be fascists, but it may take a while.
The second has been attributed to Lincoln, but I’m sure many have said it: a government of the people, for the people, by the people. But it seems to have changed now to: a government of the money, by the money, for the money. Maybe it was ever thus. Trump and the rest are close to the ‘money’ and do not intend to move very far from it. Only a democratic vote can do that. Labour has its chance, but seem to be moving towards the money and further away from the people. A vote for Reform is a vote for money, not people. As soon as people realise that we might return to normality and get what Lincoln promised people.
Farage is a small part of an ideological project to massively weaken the state’s role as monetary sovereign. That’s what the current destabilisation, here, in the US, and elsewhere, is all about. And they don’t care how they achieve it. All options are open.
On the LauraK programme on BBC this morning Tory leader James Cleverly in passing took BBC to task for being too “compliant” with Nigel Farage and Reform.
First time I have heard a senior Tory politician make such a statement. I don’t think it was ust source grapes it was an accurate observation.
Though provoking and intelligent reasoning.
Reform donot like educated people and your family originally came from Ireland. Be careful Richard especially if you’re entitled to a second passport. Lol
I have a second passport.
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
I like that!
And exposing Reform for what they really are, like this:
Reform UK’s former leader in Wales has admitted taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia while being a Member of the European Parliament.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj6xwy015ngo
This needs more publicity than it got.
Powerful reworking for our current situation. Out into the sunshine, no more troglodytes! And remember, Norse folklore tells us sunlight has a powerful effect on trolls…
It has generally underestimated power for physical health.