Autumn has arrived at Westminster, the beginning of a potential cloud of sweet fruitfulness and uncertainty in equal measure. As UK schools reopen and travelers return to offices, concerns about COVID have not eased. The daunting prospect of chilly winters with unknown forms is a believable fear as well. As a fragile British economy slowly begins to revive, there is justified unease about what happens next. That said, the success of the UK vaccination campaign provides room for cautious optimism. This allowed Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resist scathing criticism about his government’s early handling of the crisis. Nonetheless, it was clear that Johnson needed to reset his premiership and reconnect with voters. So a brutal cabinet reshuffle was no surprise. The government’s ambition to “level up” Britain in the form of a mission statement is laudable. But only a policy of high taxation and public spending may not be the answer. Reforming the state and championing economic freedom will be the key to a sustainable recovery.
It is worth recalling that the early days of the Johnson Premiership were dominated by Brexit. Euroscepticism’s urge to “control back” alcoholic cocktails and alcoholic cocktails provided a leitmotif that Johnson was able to capitalize on. His call to “get Brexit done” won an overwhelming majority in the 2019 general election. Given Theresa May’s tumultuous tenure, the turn in the fortunes of the Conservative Party was remarkable. Importantly, the party’s voting base also changed dramatically, winning working class voters in Labor’s traditional ‘Red Wall’ northern constituencies. The Tories were no longer the only party of Southern affluent voters. Soon after, the complexities of Covid changed the political landscape. But it is worth noting that the uneven voter base remains a source of tension.
Seen in this context, the latest cabinet reshuffle marks an attempt to grab Johnson’s political narrative and re-establish himself as the leading architect within his party. After the debacle in Afghanistan, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was transferred, no one baffled. The appointment of Liz Truss as the first Tory female foreign secretary was a fitting reward for her continued championing of “global Britain” in her previous role as international trade secretary. Many loyalists were rewarded with ministerial roles. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak had wings to some extent. Most of his junior team was sidelined. Ironically, Johnson has turned to Michael Gove to further his “flatten” agenda; The man who thwarted his leadership bid in 2016 emerged with a key role. This Tory administration has produced Britain’s most diverse cabinet yet. Key departments such as home, health and the chancellor held by British Asians speak of generational progress.
Nevertheless, question marks abound on a sustainable direction of governance. A bid to attract working-class Brexitier voters has seen the Tories support more tax-and-spend policies. A generation ago, a Labor prime minister, Tony Blair, appealed to traditional middle-class voters and snatched the vote from the Tories. Johnson hopes to return the favor by appealing to working-class voters and outfoxing Labor. But the increased borrowing during the pandemic cannot last forever. Nor is a higher tax burden the answer. Unbridled borrowing will bring down debt on the youth. Heavy taxation, even to support laudable purposes such as social care, risks shutting down a recovery before it actually begins. Ironically, fiscal conservatism has been abandoned by a centre-right government.
What should be the priorities of the government? First, simplifying the structures of an inefficient state should be the main focus. The tendency towards bureaucracy has given rise to an unstable and complex system which eventually falters. Second, advocating economic freedom and promoting innovation should be at the heart of its agenda. After Brexit Britain needs to embrace free trade and avoid protectionism. It is only through development that Johnson’s promise to “level up” the country’s forgotten regions can be redeemed. This would lead to a competitive tax regime to boost the economy concerned. Finally, there is a need to emphasize on increasing the population and upgrading the national infrastructure. The era of digitization and greater automation is upon us. Harnessing opportunities for all ages is essential to avoid long-term structural unemployment.
It won’t be easy given the tough choices and trade-offs ahead. Johnson has a responsibility to move forward with a transformational agenda of change. The prime minister needs to take back control of the narrative and inspire confidence. If he wants to make Britain great once again and prove the “Doomsters and Gloucesters” wrong, the inevitable truth is that the boy who wanted to be the ‘world-king’ has little time to lose. .
Rishabh Bhandari is a London-based lawyer and political commentator.
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