As we come together as a nation to celebrate the Queen’s remarkable platinum jubilee, we also unite around our bunting and flags in a moment of pure British patriotism. Being patriotic isn’t something that Labour has always looked comfortable with, but progressive politics has been at its most successful and transformational when it captures the best of British values, nurtures our world-famous institutions and instils a belief that our best days lie ahead of us, not just in the past.
A quick survey across British politics today tells us that it’s not the Conservatives that enshrine these patriotic principles but Labour.
First, our British values, which we hold dear and are known for around the world: diplomacy, rule of law, decency and integrity. Our country has always led the way as a measured and decent example to the world, but our government has called this into question. In contrast, Keir Starmer’s public pledge to resign were he to receive a fine, was a typically British thing to do.
The prime minister has repeatedly shown he is unable to uphold those values, and the reaction of the public at St Paul’s showed they know it too. Division, hatred and culture wars might work elsewhere but it’s not who Britons are, and Labour won’t rise to these false divides.
The vast majority of decent Britons believe in live and let live, love and let love. In the words of my good friend Jo Cox, we have much more that unites us than that which divides us. Tolerance, openness and generosity are core British beliefs.
This year, we also mark the anniversaries of some of our great British cultural and sporting institutions known around the world and which underpin some of our greatest exports, from the BBC to Channel 4, the Premier League, FA Cup and Wimbledon. British music, actors, art, TV and film are known and loved abroad as well as at home. The jubilee is an example of our famous culture and pageantry on show, attracting international tourists.
Labour will cherish these institutions and understands the fragile ecosystem they sit in and the massive opportunities for British jobs and British-made content they produce. Yes, the digital and streaming revolution is upon us, but short-term “red meat” policies, like selling off Channel 4 as the government has proposed, will only diminish our global reputation, cost jobs and value, and will deny British viewers those moments of togetherness. Rampaging cultural vandalism is not patriotic.
Our beloved NHS and world-renowned education system need long-term investment, utilising the latest technologies and research, and training the next generation of doctors and teachers, rather than a vision for public services that owes more to a bygone era than a state-of-the-art envy of the world.
But patriotism is also a belief, confidence and determination that our country’s future can be better than our past, and a promise to British people that the next generation will do better than the last.
Labour will defend and protect our values, traditions and institutions, but also ensure that we, like the Queen and the monarchy, move with the times and keep Britain at the cutting edge of innovation.
In order to succeed in the rapidly changing world, moving to a net zero and digital future, we need an audacious plan to take the lead in the industries of the future so we can sell goods and services that deliver the carbon-neutral world everyone needs and provide good jobs in every part of the country. Labour’s bold climate investment pledge is just that.
The new spirit of national resilience and security in our supplies, made more urgent by Covid and the war in Ukraine, sits at the heart of our “buy, make and sell British” plans. If 10 years ago we had invested in our own capacity for 5G technology, say, we would not find ourselves at the mercy of Huawei and the Chinese Communist party today. If the Tories hadn’t effectively banned onshore wind in the UK, we would produce more additional energy than we import from Russia.
Dealing with the cost of living crisis, as the government has latterly accepted, means stepping in to protect our people and the economy while being unafraid to tax excess profits. That’s what patriotic politics and economics in today’s global high winds look like – not going back to imperial measures, or throwing out of the window all our high standards and expertise, and putting up for sale our greatest wares and future infrastructure.
When it comes to upholding British values, securing the future of our world-leading institutions, and the promise for the next generation, it’s the Labour party which puts Britain first.
