{"id":82373,"date":"2025-05-16T07:24:44","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T06:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/?p=82373"},"modified":"2025-05-16T07:24:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T06:24:44","slug":"the-uk-has-a-left-behind-and-they-are-reshaping-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/2025\/05\/16\/the-uk-has-a-left-behind-and-they-are-reshaping-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK has a ‘left behind’ and they are reshaping politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two charts from the FT<\/a> this morning strongly indicate that the UK has a 'left behind' group in our society, and they are now reshaping UK politics.<\/p>\n

The article is data-based and looks at issues that characterise Reform voting constituencies:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Reform constituencies are much more likely to be populated by people born in the UK, and to be pro-Brexit. They are also likely to have low social mobility:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Three things stand out for me.<\/p>\n

First, we know this, but it keeps needing to be retold: nothing is being done to address the issue of those 'left behind'.<\/p>\n

Second, waves of neoliberal government of varying complexion have come and gone, and nothing has been done to really tackle inequality. In fairness, Labour did well on issues like child poverty under Blair (the data is very clear on that), but the Tories have always been abysmal. The rise of Reform is, then, most especially the consequence of Tory failure.<\/p>\n

Third, unless steps are taken to tackle this issue, the false narratives of hope offered by Reform, which would deeply damage the well-being of most of those who might vote for that party, will carry the day, and we will have a crisis with fascism in this country.<\/p>\n

How to achieve this?<\/p>\n

Start by massively redistributing income and wealth.<\/p>\n

Nothing but that can work. Unless people have money to spend, opportunities will not exist in the places where they live.<\/p>\n

Then improve the public services that people on lower incomes are most especially dependent upon.<\/p>\n

Solving the problems that lead to fascism can be done. What is needed is obvious. What is lacking is any desire to upset those with high income and wealth, who are the true enablers of fascism. The problem is that there is no political party willing to say this, let alone do anything about it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two charts from the FT this morning strongly indicate that the UK has a ‘left behind’ group in our society, and they are now reshaping
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