Following the recent election, the \u2018seeds of new politics\u2019 are being sown. That is what the independent MP, Jeremy Corbyn, promised. Yet, even in his own Islington North constituency, the hard right is gaining ground. This is visible with Reform UK\u2019s vote share tripling from 2019 in the same constituency. Does this election truly herald a new age or are we burying our heads in the proverbial sand, choosing to ignore the proliferation of neonationalist ideals? Is the \u2018new Britain\u2019 that Labour promises yet another tree bearing poisoned fruit for an electorate demanding genuine change?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We must guard against being swept up in superficial achievements. Corrective behaviours, improved representation, and a reversal of some Tory policies should be expected, not applauded. Nonetheless, this new government will have five years to prove its commitment to real change, and it would be unwise to cast definitive judgements so early in its term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But now is<\/em> the moment to decide what this shift means for us as creatives. We must continually challenge the new government to go beyond the superficial and address the root causes of injustice and inequality. Increasing police numbers and building more prisons will exacerbate, not protect individuals from, discrimination and injustice. Allowing sixteen-year-olds to vote will not change the fundamentally undemocratic nature of our first-past-the-post system. Promising 8,500 additional mental health staff will never provide the necessary sense of wellbeing to those facing systemic social isolation, financial instability, and marginalisation. Only through persistent advocacy and visionary thinking can we hope to build a society where equality, environmental prosperity, and national joy are not just ideals, but realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n What does visionary thinking look like?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it utopian? Is it the imaginings of a fantasist or the planning from a self-proclaimed realist? And does that matter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a time the Marriage Act of 2013 seemed an impossibility. Women\u2019s suffrage seemed a battle already lost when Emily Davison gave her life to the cause. Prior to 1948, establishing a welfare state in the UK seemed to be a socialist farce. Struggles for justice often seem futile until they come to fruition. This is why we must keep fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The perfect Britain? We cannot strive for it. Not now, not ever. As individuals, we must hold the government to account but also keep ourselves accountable. Are we working towards a better world for ourselves and those around us? Establishing what that looks like is vital. It is a deeply personal experience, picturing the imperfect world you wish to live in. I cannot write what we all want. I come with the biases acquired through the life I have had the privilege of living and the lens that my identity has placed upon my worldview. However, while I have the words to write and the will to do so, I will voice what it looks like to me. I will navigate what I am fighting for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. A UK that prioritises equity \u2013 politically, socially, and economically<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. A UK that values and strives not only for environmental sustainability but justice<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. A UK that generates its income conscientiously<\/p>\n\n\n\n These principles are, predictably, vague and hard to quantify. But this is why perfection, and clear definitions of success must not be the driver of change. National improvements are never-ending goalposts shifting down the pitch. The more information we learn, the more attitudes change, the more needs to be done. That does not have to be interpreted negatively. In fact, it is an opportunity to be inspired and inspire others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Valuing art on a national scale<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One improvement that I take great interest in is the drive to make the UK value art on a national scale. Practically, this could translate to many possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Youth programmes that support young creatives, perhaps financially backed by the government. Alternatively, larger galleries, music venues, and museums could be encouraged by the state to offer bursary schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Ridding Parliament of the rhetoric that the \u2018silver bullet\u2019 for the UK\u2019s economy can only be found in mathematics and science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Enhancing the arts\u2019 significance in school curriculums. Or, as curriculums are such a contentious issue, fund more after-school clubs focused on the many forms of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Instead of investing in anti-homeless architecture, push for the financing of artistic projects in public places. Or, even better, finance more shelters and perhaps encourage artistic pursuits within them. It is proven to be vital for mental wellbeing and an incredible method of self-expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n