Boris Johnson is a man without a plan.
His leadership is a slurry of headline-grabbing slogans which lack any substance and fizzle out under a moment’s scrutiny.
It’s government by gimmick, and the novelty’s long worn off. The Conservatives can’t deliver what Britain needs whilst tied down by the whims of their out-of-touch backbenchers.
Replace the leader, and the song remains the same: the Tories offer little more than staying in power for power’s sake, a tired status quo with no ambition for the UK.
Labour’s next phase of attack requires much greater confidence in our party’s values. We must resist taking sides between groups of voters, playing into the identity tests used to sow division and culture war.
Any bold alternative must start with a clear rejection of the Tories’ broken economic settlement - fiscal austerity, privatisation and devastating cuts - in real terms - to welfare, services and public sector pay.
Backing this up with triple-pronged approach to personal and financial security for all - supporting those who can work to get work, a strong welfare safety net and pension system, and universal basic service provision across the UK.
Labour could do more to pitch its vibrant local and regional voices against the tired old ham actors of Whitehall spouting their meaningless and insincere three word phrases. Voices rooted in the communities they represent carry more weight, more trust and more believability than Westminster Tories with their top-down politics.
By emphasising the country’s common ground and - crucially - setting out its brighter alternative to the Tory status quo, Labour can unite its liberal, cosmopolitan wing with its post-industrial Red Wall, as well as nurturing the red shoots seen in coastal and rural areas like Worthing.
That’s why Open Labour are putting forward Britain-boosting ideas which would enable people to live freer, happier and healthier lives.
We could live in a country where poverty is a thing of the past, where racism is challenged rather than met with a government seal of approval, and where your vote counts no matter where you live.
We need better work-life balance for all workers, introducing a right to flexible working as outlined by the TUC.
Radical reforms to the housing market are required, boosting supply, reigning in rogue landlords, capping rents, and ensuring every community has affordable homes.
Childcare and parental support provision must be levelled up as a matter of urgency, restoring Sure Start provision to pre-2010 levels.
A recruitment programme is needed to train up more NHS and social care workers, teachers, nursery staff, construction workers, and other vital areas with severe workplace shortages. And that has to be on the basis of the promise of a satisfying, fairly-paid and secure career.
We can boost Britain’s international standing, strengthening our relationship with our European neighbours and allies around the world, treating refugees with dignity and helping them to rebuild their lives, and developing a world-leading Human Security services that can address emergency situations, such as pandemics, genocide and ethnic cleansing, flooding or famine.
Any modern government should value the health, happiness and security of its citizens and appreciate those qualities as going hand-in-hand with our economic success and international reputation. A country with economic security, dignity and quality of life in every nation and region across our country.
The only way we can achieve this is with a Labour government, and one which is prepared to fight for the bold, ambitious upgrades needed to propel Britain forwards and give people security and freedom over their own lives.
