Zoom Meeting held on Monday 16th November 2020
Eight people were present. Four gave apologies for not attending.
There was no face-to-face meeting due to lockdown regulations, so only a zoom meeting was offered.
We speculated about the impact the departure of the PM’s advisors Cummings and Cain might have. Would it lead to greater emphasis on a green agenda, perhaps? Johnson, however, does not appear to be driven by any particular ideology (accept to maximise of his own power) and so (unelected) advisors are very significant in the development of policy. Their departure would thus be a loss to Johnson.
The election of Biden in US might also affect UK government policy in the light of his emphasis upon peace in N. Ireland which he sees to be threatened by recent Brexit policy. While Biden clearly ‘won’ the election, a very large minority supported Trump. What was his appeal, we wondered; and also the appeal of Johnson. It was suggested that they both responded emotionally to the large proportions of the public (in US and UK) who have been let down by liberal (and Neo-liberal) economic strategies which have concentrated wealth and undermined secure employment. Both Trump and Johnson said what this public wanted to hear (even though their economic policies did not, in fact, serve their interests). Cummings was particularly able to lead this process in his Brexit campaign. Cummings’ departure, like Biden’s election win, might herald a move towards more civility in politics.
We thought the Covid19 experience might also impact policy. Large amounts of state expenditure, possibilities for some sort of universal basic income, placing value of certain service roles, and so on, all constituted large shifts in Conservative policy. In fact, would Labour (under Starmer) be very different? In some respects yes: greater efficiency; less outsourcing, more local control.
A significant difference between US political engagement and European, lies in the place of evangelical and fundamentalist religion. Many in the ‘Rust Belt’ of US and NE of UK have lost faith in governments which have pursued Liberal and Enlightenment principles. The appeal of religious fundamentalism, like populist politics, lies in the certainties they offer. The provisionality of reason and science are no longer central, but are seen as characteristics of the middle class ‘elite’ forms of government that have served them so poorly. Uncertainty, anxiety, and insecurity are prominent features of life for many.
If the departure of Cummings and Trump reflect moves towards new policy frameworks (rather than a ‘back to normal’ return to the economics of the marketplace), what would this new principle be? To be practical, where and how will jobs now be created? To what extent will a new Green agenda relate to this?
The arrangements for a December meeting will depend upon restriction applying at the time.