Keir Starmer, Will Hutton, Alastair Campbell and Sonia Sodha on How To Remake Britain

Britain is in big trouble. The country has dipped into recession, local councils are going bankrupt and trust in our politics has collapsed. Could Labour leader Keir Starter remake Britain after the next election?

According to political economist, writer and author, Will Hutton, and political strategist, journalist and co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast, Alastair Campbell, a recovery is in our own hands. For this Intelligence Squared live event on how to remake Britain, Keir Starmer himself joins Hutton, Campbell and our host, Sonia Sodha, live on stage at London's Union Chapel to discuss the future of British politics and the themes of renewal found within Hutton's book, 'This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain', and Campbell's book, 'But What Can I Do?' which both look to inspire a new generation of political leaders.

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[ianworley]

Having lived through Wilson, Callaghan, Blair and Brown governments, I'm now more convinced than ever that the only way to fix Britain is to do away with FPTP. Every progressive measure introduced will be undone; every publicly owned asset built will be sold off by the next Tory government. Elected into unassailable power, as always, on a minority of the popular vote. Britain is so far behind now. Our rate of decline seems to accelerate exponentially. The only way to ensure the Tory asset strippers and wreckers are kept out of power, is proportional representation. Progressive parties need to work collaboratively to rebuild Britain, rather being made irrelevant by our profoundly undemocratic electoral system. So many criminally wasted votes. No wonder people feel disenfranchised and marginalised. We need to stop a small group of entitled, extremists from seizing control every decade or so only interested in dismantling the country for their own narrow self interest. Without PR its just a never ending cycle of one step forward, two steps back.

[OnlineEnglish-wlrp]

Re wealth taxation, the point needs to be repeatedly made that the last 45 years has seen unprecedented wealth funnelled to a tiny elite and that in 2008 when the banks collapsed, WE were forced to bail out THEIR imploded financial assets.

[MartinCarty]

Keira Starmer is right about one thing and at the risk of upsetting him in the words of Mao Tse Tung, "Dreams without power will remain dreams". The great Nye Bevan said, "Where is the power and how do I get it?"

[johndewhurst]

To remake Britian we need undo all the damage done by Margaret Thatcher. Selling of social housing ( which has forced people to rent from private landlords), deregulating the banks (which caused the banking crash in 2008), and privatising public services which helps shareholders not the country. Also we need to fight the poverty in the country, and stop attacking the poor.

[davidlundrigan]

Well that was quite informative. Labour definitely has my vote, I just hope they go further than they are saying. Big changes needed in this country.

[VinceLammas]

It was interesting to see Keir Starmer clearly backing the concepts outlined by Will Hutton and using the language of Mariana Mazzucato, "Mission Government". He correctly identifies the people who will not beleive what he says (and they will make their comments here).

I think he is correct in expressing how important it is to create an environment where private businesses will invest, triggered by a clear sense of purpose, political stability and targeted investment.

[KieranGarland]

i'm with and for Labour right now, but Labour needs to be brave enough to reimagine the deep structure of the UK economy, and also to find a little bit of poetry

[rorywilson]

New Labour reset British politics in a way, i remember the hope and excitement in that era, too young to really remember the thatcher and major years but heard the horror stories. That hopeful era ended with 911, and the invasion of iraq. Suddenly the government of good and supposed social justice werent listening, were constantly downplaying the strong feelings, spin spin endless spin. The financial crash was the final blow to credibility, but it was Iraq that really killed New Labour. Deservedly, it has to be said. I remember thinking the country needed a change when Cameron won, but boy I had no idea what we were ushering in. 14 years of failure and damage. But the feeling of disillusionment precedes Cameron, it goes back to those foreign policy mistakes and how our country is meant to act. The situation in Gaza was a test for Starmer. For me, he didnt pass, and i struggle now to believe that new is automatically better.

[ajsctech]

In a word Housing. Reverse the Thatcher 80s council House reforms and implement in Law that 40 percent of all new builds in n a County or Local Authority must be social housing which is a Law that some German states have applied. Fix housing and solve a multitude of other social ills in the UK.Thats it

[andrewgoodall]

I've just come from polling booth. Voted Labour on what I'd consider a local election (East Midland Mayor). Never done that before. Only voted Labour once (never, ever Tory) before in my 50 years and that was tactical against perceived Farage threat. You better get this right, Starmer.

[nicksimmons]

38:00 people of Hartlepool said they’d had a Labour MP since 2010 and their Police station, Court and Hospital had closed that is what Starmer up against.

[paulinegibson]

Alastair -the fight to stop Genocide in Gaza IS a battle worth fighting

[VinceLammas]

Hutton said that Rachel Reeves had recast the fiscal rules in the Mais Lecture and that was my interpretation of her statements. If he's right that investment opportunities can be taken, then it can be the "starting handle" that fires up the engine of growth.

[whilberwhateley]

26:55 Kier answers question as if there is no wealth in the country at the moment to be redistributed. The 55 individuals worth over a billion dollars indicates otherwise. As does the richest 1% holding more wealth than 70% of the UK population. Insignificant changes if we’re lucky. Atley did so much more than what Starmer offering with so much less.

[Cronhour]

All of these people fundamentaly want to change very little.

[blehoo]

Completely agree with Alastair at the end there. No govt can be perfect. But ....one thing is absolutely certain - we have no prospect for real sustainable growth or security unless we get our relationship back on track with the EU and at the very least rejoin the single market. I would also say that a full throttle drive to build up our green energy capacity makes sense in every logical way in terms of our energy security, job creation and affordability for the consumer. All that is before you even get to the benefits for the environment. We just have to make the case to the electorate.

[tref]

Nice to hear Keir Starmer....it was like listening to the adult of politics as opposed to the Tory nutters.

[francescachristy]

Not sure how Will imagines it will help families living in London to pay more Council Tax, linked to massively inflated house values. Adding a few more bands at the higher end would make more sense

[pennyyoung]

Thank you! Interesting discussion. I’d have liked more questions from the audience 🌷

[stephenboothby]

Our whole political system needs reforming. It's based on a time when there were no phones, no computers and sending an MP to make our decisions (in a horse and carriage) over several years was the only way to do it. In 2024 we have the ability to have far more input into the decisions we have made on our behalf and should never be in a position where we have an unelected PM and a party in charge that has done nothing for the country for years. (It's actually harmed it.)