Britain Needs Change: The Politics of Hope and Labour's Challenge

by Gerry Hassan (Editor), Simon Barrow (Editor), Helena Kennedy (Introduction)

After fourteen years of Conservative government – combined with Brexit, a global pandemic, the rise of a populist far right and the existential threat of climate change – many see Britain as undergoing serious social, economic and cultural decline. This is the context in which Labour have taken office at Westminster after a decade and a half in opposition. With recent ways of doing politics, government and statecraft in crisis, how can a serious, humane alternative emerge? What scale and type of change is coming, and will it be for the better?

All this raises serious questions about the future of the UK and its constituent nations, Labour's ability to govern progressively, and the incoming government's confidence and capacity to take on the entrenched vested interests of present-day Britain while also having an honest, mature conversation with the public and its own supporters about the nature of these challenges.

In Britain Needs Change, some of our best thinkers and commentators dissect the challenges facing the new government in a series of wide-ranging, penetrative essays. Featuring contributions from Helena Kennedy, John Curtice, Mariana Mazzucato, Neal Lawson, Aditya Chakrabortty, Ann Pettifor, Gavin Esler, Hilary Cottam, Sunder Katwala, Savitri Hensman, Fintan O'Toole and Andrew Gamble among others, this is required reading for anyone interested in the future of our country.

463 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Gerry Hassan, PhD is a Scottish writer, academic and research fellow at the University of the West of Scotland. He is also an associate for Demos and OpenDemocracy. Gerry Hassan is a frequent columnist for the British national daily newspaper The Guardian on topics and issues related to the United Kingdom, particularly Scotland.

Reviews

[Steve Angelkov · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Britain Needs Change" by Gerry Hassan is a thought-provoking exploration of the political and social challenges facing the UK in the wake of Labour's return to power after over a decade of Conservative rule.

Published in late 2024, the book compiles essays from prominent thinkers, offering a roadmap for progressive change and dissecting the entrenched issues plaguing Britain, from economic inequality to the erosion of public services.

However, the book's relevance feels somewhat diminished by recent global developments, particularly the confirmation of Donald Trump's second term as U.S. President in early 2025.

Despite this, "Britain Needs Change" has some great contributions, providing ample food for thought.