Over the past 15 years, British politics has been defined by the tension between ideals and practicality. The right has dominated theory, bolstered by a supportive press, yet struggled in execution. Meanwhile, Labour has become pragmatic but uninspiring, clinging to a “leftwing” label while prioritising competence over vision. That may not be a flaw in itself, but polling suggests it isn’t winning over voters.
Yet Labour’s poor standing hasn’t benefited the Tories. Broken by their time in office, the Conservatives appear to be fading into irrelevance. They failed to address capitalism’s central flaw: that without government intervention, wealth accumulates for those at the top while many feel abandoned below. Instead, Tory chancellors pursued austerity policies, deepening social division and fuelling the discontent that led to the disaster of voting to leave the EU.
This week, Sir Keir Starmer became the first British leader to attend a European Council meeting since Brexit. The paradox for Labour is that closer ties with the EU would benefit Britain and are increasingly popular, yet they also reinforce the perception that Labour represents the status quo, aligning it semaphorically with high immigration levels. This plays into Nigel Farage’s hands.
Mr Farage, despite being central to Brexit’s ongoing damage, has escaped blame. Never having been in government, the former City trader continues to pose as an anti-establishment insurgent. He has also hardened his anti-immigration stance, keeping the issue central to his politics. His rise reflects a broader truth: voters don’t always punish failure – they vote based on identity and frustration. Mr Farage exploits this today by arguing Brexit was sabotaged by the political class, not by its obvious contradictions.
On Tuesday, a poll showed Mr Farage’s Reform UK overtaking Labour as Britain’s most popular party. This is despite his long history of inflammatory rhetoric. Elections often change who holds power, but not necessarily the direction of policy. Across Europe, the populist right is weaponising climate action, portraying green policies as elite-driven burdens on working people. Mr Farage has seized on this, calling for the scrapping of net zero targets. The Conservatives, under Kemi Badenoch, seem poised to follow.
Rather than inspiring confidence, Labour offers false reassurance – implying that little will change. This leads to contradictory messaging, such as suggesting that flying from Heathrow will be easier while continuing North Sea oil exploration, without addressing how these would meet Britain’s carbon commitments. Just as troubling is Labour’s welfare reform plan, which focuses on tackling benefit fraud. In attempting to shield itself from rightwing attacks, Labour risks hurting vulnerable individuals and disproportionately targeting benefit claimants while larger-scale fraud goes unaddressed. It also taps into a narrative that ultimately echoes Reform’s own rhetoric about “scroungers”.
Political justifications shift depending on who benefits. Brexit was once a people’s revolution, then an unchallengeable mandate. Now that it’s unpopular, politicians avoid reopening the debate. But the shadow of Brexit will not fade on its own. Labour cannot simply manage the status quo. To defeat Mr Farage’s sham politics, it must offer more than technocratic governance. Without a compelling vision, including one for Britain’s place in Europe, it risks being outflanked – both by history and by a movement built on anger, not solutions.
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