‘Change’ dominated my thoughts this week. Not, how to change my lifestyle, my work or my hairstyle, but how we can change the big social issues of the day. Such important social issues that need rocket propelled change. How will we do this?

Two events this week, ‘set me off’. Firstly, the Resolution Foundation Report on Stagnation Britain and secondly the COP 28 Conference in Dubai. To minimize the length of the post I will leave the COP 28 to another day…..

The Resolution Foundation report is the most cathartic text I have read since Withering Heights. Bringing together the countries greatest economic brains over a two year period, and after interviewing people up and down Britain, their report packs a massive punch. For those who don’t have the time, nor inclination, to read its 291 pages I will summarise the key points.

It concludes that we, in Britain, have a, “toxic combination” of low growth and high inequality and that something must be done, quickly, to get us back on track (and save the fabric of our society – my words). In rare language used by academics, they stress the need for more honest conversations about a better Britain. Not one based on a glorious past, or some fantasy about the way we could be in the future. With a goal to create more, high quality, highly paid jobs (to regain the 4% lost GDP since Brexit – my words).

It boldly states ways that we can do this. By firstly recognizing that our strengths are in Services (Banking yes, but also arts, music, hospitality etc etc) and that these should be our overriding focus in the future (it is cynical about us leading the green revolution or new hi-tech manufacturing). ‘Levelling up’ countrywide is replaced by a need to catapult Birmingham and Manchester/Leeds in to big and important global cities. Through massive new infrastructure and services spending from central Government (to the detriment of London). These two cities should be built upwards and outwards, in a scale that we will find difficult to imagine. Growing them by 15%. Cities, they say, are vital ; where you have 2 million plus people, you have connections, meetings of like- minded people and innovation is the exciting result. It backs this with two other major thoughts: trade deals with other countries are critically important for us, and yet, to date, meagre. Interestingly too, advocating a return to trade union involvement. Maybe dirty words to some, but the report recognises the lost years of employees ideas, and the importance of engagement and belonging.

Three specifically political ideas are covered. Firstly, the need for longer term thinking over, what we have now, short term strategies covering the term of a single Governments. Recommending that 3% of GDP is set in the budget for growth only, and this money be handled by an independent body, rather than leaving economic strategy in the hands of constituent ‘vulnerable’ politicians. It lastly calls upon PM’s of the future to leave people in cabinet posts for as long as the Government is in power. Financial investors are said to be put off by the constant changing of our cabinet ministers (ha, really?).

I fully support the report’s findings, but who will manage this change? The 291 page report concretely lays out what the problems are, what the correct goals should be to tackle these problems, and offers a long term strategy. I don’t know about you, but I am so relieved to finally read about a way forward and one that makes sense.

Thinking back on the questionmark about ‘change’ and how big shifts in society come about. Historically, big social changes come out of 5 areas: individual action (thinking Trump, Erdogan and Mandela) ; collective action ( the 60’s Civil rights movement lead by Martin Luther King Jr a good example) ; economic change ( the pandemic being the most recent example) ; technical innovation ( Internet, AI – clear examples) and lastly external factors ( climate change is the best example here).

Looking at these change areas how can we make the Resolution Foundation vision of a New Britain a reality?

These social changes need the individual actions of a strong PM and political party backed by strong collective action. Collective action is needed, and I feel that this change is a foot. Our populace may be divided along natural party lines, but we all suffer as the nation gets poorer. Maybe we are not all financially poorer, but all of us are culturally poorer.

Now, who is brave enough to lead the voters? Communicating the trade- offs needed to save the country from further decline? It wont’t be easy, but must be done.