This summer’s UK and French elections explained, with Mark Blyth

On this episode, we take a closer look at two of them: this summer’s elections in the United Kingdom and France. 

In the U.K., the center-left Labour Party won in a landslide in July, ending 14 years of Conservative Party rule. In France, an alliance of left-leaning parties banded together to defeat the right-wing National Rally Party, led by Marine Le Pen.  

But as political economist and Watson Professor Mark Blyth explains, neither was as resounding a victory for the center-left as the topline results suggest. Furthermore, if these new governments fail to address the social and economic distress so many people in their countries are experiencing, the far-right may not be sidelined for long. 

Mark Blyth is the director of the Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance at the Watson Institute. He’s also host of the Rhodes Center Podcast, another podcast from the Watson Institute. On this episode, he spoke with Dan Richards about what these two elections can tell us about the political fault lines running through European politics today and what they can also tell us about right-wing populism in the U.S. ahead of our own election in November. 

[KeithFoster-mexl]

More interesting for what ISN’T mentioned. Labour now receives more funding from super rich private donors than workers Unions. The fact this isn’t mentioned is quite remarkable.

[tonymccann]

Pretty accurate analysis. In terms of “austerity light”, Rachel Reeves latest speech to parliament shows that it ain't gonna be “light”.

[Gitskreig]

A few clarifications.

Labour were traditionally centre-left, but moved to centrist/centre-right under Blair. This stayed until Corbyn moved them back to centre-left upon becoming leader in 2015, at which point the smears started, as described.

The first election Corbyn faced was in 2017 against Theresa May, in which while Labour lost, they took away the Tory majority.
In 2019, now under Johnson, the Tories managed to get another election entirely to act as an attempt to break the deadlock over Brexit, which effectively turned into a referendum where the question was 'do you want another 4 years arguing about Brexit?'. During this election, the Tories were the hardline Leave party, the Lib Dems went hardline Remain (under a leader voted in almost entirely on a mandate of 'we need to block Corbyn') and Labour ended up with a poorly communicated plan devised by Kier Starmer (who is now the leader). It went poorly for Labour, though in no small part because the Brexit Party (Farage's previous party) didn't run in Tory marginals so as to, again, block Corbyn.

[NickDvB]

Marks take on the ensh1tification of the UK is spot on, as usual. But you ain't seen nothin yet...

[GlassEyedDetectives]

Always appreciate Marks critiques, thank you. As for UK politics, i can't help but remember that immortal line said by the character Monty, in the film 'Withnail & I' - "Shat on by Tories, shovelled up by Labour"

[Eurydice]

I wish Prof. Blythe was more well known. He makes so much sense. 🎉

[benday]

Blyth right on form here. Nice to see.

[KeithFoster-mexl]

Please be more accurate with your political orientation descriptions.
UK Labour is most definitely NOT a centre left party. See latest attack on pensioners, versus their new super rich donors for details.

[alfred-vzti]

i suppose u.k. will be the last nation to realize the utility of democracy.