The New Statesman Debate | This house believes the Labour Party is not bold enough to fix Britain 

Recorded: Sat 20 Apr 2024

Duration: 1 hr

The New Statesman Debate | This house believes the Labour Party is not bold enough to fix Britain 

A general election is approaching – and if Labour retains their lead in the polls, they will bring an end to 14 years of Tory rule. But they will inherit a country in which living standards are declining at the fastest rate since the 1950s, NHS waiting lists are at a record high, councils are falling into bankruptcy, and carbon emissions targets are dodged. Has Keir Starmer got what it takes to pull the country back from the brink? Will his cautious, moderate, frugal style lead to a wasted opportunity?

For the motion:

Melissa Benn – journalist, campaigner and author of books including Life Lessons: The Case for a National Education Service.

Grace Blakeley – economics and politics commentator, and author of Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom

Caroline Lucas – Green Party MP for Brighton, Pavilion and author of Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story.

Against the motion:

Andrew Marr – broadcaster, author and political editor of the New Statesman.

Alan Johnson – author, former Labour cabinet minister.

Simon Woolley – member of the House of Lords, principal Homerton College and founder of Operation Black Vote.

Chaired by Anoosh Chakelian, New Statesman’s Britain Editor