Getting Elected Is the Easy Bit ...

"Labour inherits a stagnant economy, failing public services, crumbling infrastructure, and a weakened military."

As anticipated, Labour emerge victorious in the U.K. general election. Kier Starmer, is only the fourth Labour Party leader to achieve the premiership from opposition feat. He now faces a daunting task. The victory is just the beginning, and a brief period of celebration is all he can afford. Labour inherits a stagnant economy, failing public services, crumbling infrastructure, and a weakened military unable to defend the country.

The outgoing Conservatives, who took the reins in 2010, have significantly reshaped Britain's landscape. Here's some data that underscores the profound impact of their policies.

• 5,000% increase in food banks
• 20% in graduate debt
• 1,300% increase in the asylum backlog
• 210% increase in hospital waiting times
• 120% increase in homelessness 
• 170% in net migration
• 40% increase in government debt
• 60% decrease in productivity
• 39% increase in knife crime
• 12% increase in taxes

On the more positive side.

• 15% increase in university enrollment
• 54% decrease in recorded crime
• 60% less use of fossil fuels
• 44% decrease in unemployment
  
  

However, these positives are not without their challenges. The financial stability of most universities is precarious. If, for instance, the Chinese decide to withdraw their students from the U.K., many institutions would be forced to shut down or implement severe cutbacks. Chinese students contribute approximately £2 billion annually, making up a quarter of all international students in the U.K. Their presence keeps fees down for domestic students, who pay at a loss-making level.

U.K. undergraduate fees are frozen at £9,250 for 2024-2025. Without international students subsidising home students, the annual costs could rise above £20,000, which is a huge jump.

Meanwhile, could the decreased recorded crime reflect a lack of trust in the police, or have counting rules changed? These are legitimate questions, given the public sentiment that crime has increased and communities have become less safe. Many citizens believe that offences such as burglaries and shoplifting, have been effectively decriminalised because the police have simply decided not to investigate them. Yet, as this Bloomberg article explains the situation is more complicated than the raw data suggests.

And while the decrease in the use of fossil fuels is to be welcomed, it has created new vulnerabilities that need addressing. On a cold night in January 2021, as temperatures dropped across the U.K., the national grid's controllers made frantic calls. With low-wind conditions, which usually go with a cold snap, Britain's much-trumpeted drive for green power hit reality. The gas and coal generators scrambled to fire up as the wind turbines slowed and fell silent. In the process, the owners of these generators were able to command a premium price.

On a typical day, a unit megawatt-hour costs £40. That evening, the top price reached £4,000. That prize went to the gas-powered West Burton power station in Nottinghamshire. You know, one of those places hated by the eco-warriors that sustains the heat for pensioners and the power for ventilators. Other gas and coal power stations increased their output overnight, thus averting a disaster. Getting the balance right between saving the planet and keeping the lights on isn't easy.

​With the Conservatives' appalling record, their deceitful Covid parties at Nos. 10, the rampant corruption surrounding PPE procurement, and Liz Truss's near-crash of the economy, getting Starmer elected is the easy part.

Britain has many remarkable strengths. The soft power of the English language, the arts, and culture grants influence and access that is the envy of many nations. The common law anchors business, creating an equal playing field. Further, Britain remains a leader in fields like artificial intelligence, life sciences, and renewable energy, all of which top universities support.

The challenge for Labour is to leverage these advantages and carry the public with them in a post-Brexit and post-Empire world where Britain's influence is waning. I wish Starmer well. He has many tough choices to make.

Meanwhile, the exit polls indicate a potential seismic shift, with the Reform Party possibly securing as many as ten seats in Parliament. This could significantly alter the political landscape, potentially leading to a more diverse and balanced representation in the government.

And while Starmer has emerged victorious under the first-past-the-post system, his nationwide support may not be as strong. If this holds true, it could cast doubt on his legitimacy.

Stay tuned - the results are still pouring in.