British society is chillingly unequal. According to Gary Stevenson (Citibank’s most profitable trader turned inequality activist), if the government taxed the richest in society so that they had as much money as before the pandemic, we could give every adult in the UK £12,000. Just let that sink in. People are sat in freezing cold homes this winter whilst the richest 1% accumulate more and more wealth.
12 long years of Tory rule have shown us their contempt for the most vulnerable in Britain. From Osborne and Cameron’s catastrophic “Bedroom Tax” to Truss and Kwarteng’s disaster budget, the Conservatives have proved themselves devoid of empathy for those who are on their knees and struggling.
The cruel and present reality of neoliberalism is one thing, but something that baffles me about these politicians is their alleged love for Britain. David Cameron spoke of a ‘patriotic duty’ to win the General Election in 2010. When he assumed office, he didn’t spare much time before he reigned hell down on the unemployed and disabled. Remember Theresa May’s tear-filled resignation speech? On the steps of Downing Street she told us that she loved the UK. Pretty rich coming from the person that wanted to make the elderly pay more for their social care in 2017. Where is the devotion to the UK and its inhabitants that the Tories claim to have?
Conservative politicians and the right-wing newspapers that support them should not have a monopoly on what patriotism is. For years they have undermined the “love” for Britain that they have proclaimed. Labour should now position themselves as the party that waves the Union Jack. Love for one’s country is a powerful thing, and it could have enormous electoral potential.
Labour are within touching distance of forming this narrative. Their policy programme boasts a vision of nationalized railways, a state-owned green energy company, a wave of new social housing and a 70% home ownership target. That’s what love for your nation looks like: a plan to care for British people and their communities. It’s time for Labour to lead the patriotic charge.