The real centre ground

Most of us will tune out as different sects in the Labour Party are busy talking past each other and amplifying the turbulence of the forthcoming leadership challenge.

Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair has written an essay, in which he argues his party should look at what is in the interests of the country and deliver policies which best advance those interests.

Meanwhile leadership hopeful Andy Burnham offered his rebuke to the notion by suggesting that it ignores the fundamental driver of populism - which he identifies as inequality, that means “people are unable to live and that things that were taken for granted are no longer affordable”.

The truth is that somewhere between the two lives the answer, the world is tough and getting tougher at an alarming rate, with conflict, climate, AI, and the rise of populism, thus increased division and with it fear promoting hate.

We must be honest with ourselves. The privileges we have held over the past 50 years will need to be given up in order to meet the challenges we face today.

At the same time, redressing the balance between wealthiest and poorest, not in a race to the bottom but a race to the top in terms of overall standards of living and quality of life, is essential if we are to continue to believe that the institutions and systems we have today are delivering for us.

The policies of Labour sometimes feel to trap people in a system that supports them, but never lets them escape. In an attempt to make a fairer society, everyone must be repressed - it would be good to see a system where everyone can succeed.