Aaron Bastani: Britain’s No-Growth Economy Means Politics Is Only Going to Get More Chaotic

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Britain's No-Growth Economy Means Politics Is Only Going to Get More Chaotic Aaron Bastani: Between 1964 and 2016, Britain had four Conservative prime ministers in 52 years. Between 2016 and 2022, Britain will also have had four Conservative prime ministers, in just six years. By itself, this tells us something has changed. The question is whether it is temporary or permanent. For those who see the situation as exceptional, Britain's descent into ever deeper tumult is generally viewed as the result of Brexit – original sin and starting gun for our collective madness. It's a comforting idea, principally because it offers an origin for a sequence of events, and therefore, at least in theory, suggests a swift conclusion. But this interpretation is wrong, because while the chaos saturating the country's public life has undoubtedly intensified in recent years, many of its key political presumptions have been in suspended animation since at least 2010.  After all, that year's general election gave rise to a formal coalition government – the first in peacetime since 1918. 2011 not only saw riots across England but also the cancellation of the state opening of parliament – the first time that happened outside of war since 1925. It happened again in 2018. Between those two dates, Ed Miliband was elected as Labour leader. While his leftwing credentials were noteworthy, he would be outdone by his successor, Jeremy Corbyn. Elected in 2015 he was the party's most radical figurehead since the 1930s. Earlier, in that May's general election, the SNP reduced Labour to a single seat in Scotland, while Ukip amassed almost four million votes. Three prime ministers in a single year is merely the latest episode in a longer saga. 'Unprecedented' events – from the BNP gaining almost a million votes in 2009, to the Tories falling to 14% in some polls today – are becoming mundane. Despite the Brexit monomania of some, things have been growing increasingly strange for quite some time.  CONTINUE READING ➡︎ Picks of the week... OPINION Labour's Cult of Factionalism Is Going Into Overdrive by Andrew Fisher From Emma Dent Coat to Maurice Mcleod, the Labour right is busy destroying would-be leftwing MPs - and its own electoral prospects in the process, writes Andrew Fisher. Read more... ANALYSIS Here's How Rishi Sunak Could Crash Our Economy (Again)  by Richard Murphy Rishi Sunak arrived in Downing Street saying we faced a moment of economic crisis. He is right, argues Richard Murphy. But his inclination for austerity will only make things (much, much) worse. Read more... READ MORE ON NOVARAMEDIA.COM ➡︎ Back Novara Media from just £1 per month. Traditional media are not able to report on the cost of living crisis or workers' rights with any kind of integrity. Billionaire funders and advertising partnerships define what they do and don't cover. Their survival depends on pandering to the interests of their super-rich funders. But our journalism is funded entirely by you. Thanks to our supporters, we're free to report on the issues that drastically impact our lives. We're free for all to access, free from ads, free from paywalls - free from the influence of the super-rich. If you are in the position to support us with a monthly donation from just £1 per month, you'll help us to plan our future and be more resilient in the media space.  Alternatively, you can support us with a one-off donation. We know times are really tough, so any support you give does not go unnoticed. Thanks so much – we couldn't do this without you. Copyright © 2022 Thousand Hands Ltd. All rights reserved. Thousand Hands Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales #11245029. Its registered address is 10 Bridge Street, Christchurch, BH23 1EF. Novara Media is a trading name of Thousand Hands Ltd and, as such, the individual shall have no personal liability arising out of such communication, and liability or obligation rests solely with Novara Media. Opinions or advice contained in this email are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the relevant terms of business and are not necessarily agreed or authorised by Thousand Hands Ltd. We have taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that no viruses are transmitted from Novara Media to any third party. Novara Media accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting directly or indirectly from the use of this email or the contents. Novara Media is regulated by IMPRESS, the independent press regulator.

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