few days ago, Keir Starmer spoke at the New Statesman summer party. Most of his remarks were of the kind one might expect in the circumstances. But the Prime Minister went out of his way to highlight the threat of right-wing populism.
He may have just won a 172-seat majority, with Reform winning only five MPs, but there is little sense of complacency. With a volatile and fragmented electorate, there is an awareness that if it all goes wrong for Labour in this parliament, the opportunity will be there for the populists to benefit. Morgan McSweeney, the party’s chief strategist, cut his teeth taking on the British National Party in Barking in the late 2000s. The UK is currently an outlier when it comes to the power of the populist right but there is no guarantee this will last. Labour appears concerned about the risks. As one close friend of Starmer put it to me recently, the “barbarians are at the gates”.
As populism continues to shape political landscapes globally, the question arises: can the U.S. Democrats learn from the UK’s Labour Party in countering this influential movement? Labour, facing a surge of populism in recent years, has employed strategies that might offer valuable insights for Democrats as they navigate the 2024 election cycle.
Labour has focused on reclaiming its traditional base by addressing economic inequality, emphasizing social justice, and presenting a unified front on progressive policies. This approach has helped them appeal to voters disillusioned with populist rhetoric, which often simplifies complex issues and stokes division.
For Democrats, the lesson may lie in refining their message to connect more deeply with working-class voters who feel left behind by globalization and technological change. Labour’s strategy of directly engaging with these communities, acknowledging their concerns, and offering tangible solutions could be a model worth emulating.
Moreover, Democrats might benefit from Labour’s emphasis on unity within the party, avoiding internal conflicts that can weaken their stance against populist opponents. By learning from Labour’s experience, Democrats could strengthen their position, counter the rise of populism, and build a coalition that addresses the broader concerns of the electorate.
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