Today is RED but the Future is GREEN (& maybe Orange)

It's early on Friday morning, and the reality is setting in: for the first time in my professional career, we have a Labour government in the UK. This moment feels monumental, almost surreal, as the shift in political power is happening for the first time in a generation.

Running the government with the existing systems and processes is going to be a colossal challenge. The civil service and the bureaucratic machinery are inherently designed to prevent change, ensuring that any progress is painstakingly slow.

Moreover, the media landscape is toxic. In many ways, we are all complicit in this toxicity, hypocritically holding those who try to make a difference to unattainable standards—standards we ourselves, the setters, often fail to meet.

Farewell to the Tories

While I am delighted that we have bid farewell to the Tories and am excited for a different future, my reasons may not align with the popular narrative. Yes, the scandals, lies, and incompetence that piled up (just like the bodies during COVID) over the past 14 years were enough to drive anyone to vote for change. And yes, the shift towards using the word immigration as the socially acceptable euphemism for racism is particularly disgusting.

However, a significant factor for me was the sheer depletion of talent and ability within the Conservative Party. Whether you liked them or not, the early days of the Conservative governments boasted a mix of experienced politicians, talented orators and charismatic leaders like Cameron, Osborne, and Gove. There were also many competent professionals like Theresa May, Nadhim Zahawi, Sajid Javid and Rory Stewart. Even Boris Johnson, despite his moral failings and pathological dishonesty, was undoubtedly one of the most successful campaigners the UK has ever seen.

Over the years, this group (like many successful sports teams) aged simultaneously, and alongside each new scandal or self-serving act of sabotage drove away the best and the brightest, replacing them with entitled, talentless placeholders. Ultimately, the Conservatives, as history often shows, destroyed themselves from within over three terms, becoming increasingly self-obsessed, incompetent, and arrogant.

The sad reality of a defeat of this magnitude is that for the next few years at least the Conservatives will lurch further to the populist right, almost certainly selecting an immigration-obsessed leader. In their desperation to regain power, they are likely to double down on divisive rhetoric and policies, seeking to galvanise support by appealing to the basest instincts of fear and xenophobia. This shift will not only deepen existing societal divides but also hinder constructive dialogue and progress on critical issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and social justice.

Fortunately, the new labour government have the majority to ensure this shouldn’t materially impact their ability to lead!

The Labour Government

Now, instead, we have the very best the opposition has to offer. We have a decorated human rights lawyer leading us instead of a disaster capitalist. We have overachieving working-class individuals (perhaps I can relate to that a little) and people who are desperately hungry to change this country for the better.

I've been fortunate enough to meet some of the soon-to-be-named cabinet members, and I was genuinely impressed by their understanding and the insightful questions they posed about the future evolution of the nature-based economy, and the importance of the environment for people and wildlife. This gives me incredible hope!

What we all need to do is give them time, space, and the opportunity to listen, learn, and lead. They will make mistakes along the way—who hasn’t? But what we must remember is that they are the best of all of us, the best of those who were brave enough to step forward and try to make a difference.

Ed Davey’s Summer Break!

I would like to make honourable mentions of the brilliant campaign led by Ed Davey and the Liberal Democrats. They overachieved by showcasing the personality of their leader and, in the process, achieved so much more with so much less than any other party. I'm excited to see if they can build on this platform.

The Future is Green!

And the Greens! Your time will come. Outside of the Conservatives, who repeatedly lied about every environmental pledge they made, your influence helped ensure every party talked more about the natural world and committed to doing more. The next election will feature the environment prominently, and the one after that will see you playing an essential role in the fight for the future of this planet. Thank you, and we’re here to help if we can.

This new Labour government represents a fresh start, a chance to rebuild and improve our nation. Let's embrace this opportunity with optimism and a willingness to support and contribute to a better future for all.