Apathy in the Yookay

For readers wondering why I’m quiet on here (and on X) just lately, it’s because I’ve been doing absolutely nothing. I appreciate that’s not what my paid subscribers want to hear, but I’ve been making the most of a bout of writer’s block and enjoying the sunshine. It’s too hot to think, and I’ve learned not to force it if I don’t have much to say for myself. My writing mojo will come back soon, as indeed it always does, and then I’ll be back to my usual prolific self.

The other reason is that I’m saving myself for September which sees the launch of the policy website I’ve committed to. Once that kicks off, I'm going to be pedal-to-the-metal until Christmas. I might as well enjoy a little time free of politics while my web developer puts the final touches on the site. I’ve seen the prototype today and I’m pleased with what I’ve seen. It’s not flashy, there’s no bells and whistles, and it’s all about the content. Exactly what I ordered.

That said, I’m still keeping an eye on things. In this game it actually pays to step back once in a while to get some perspective. I certainly wouldn’t go as far as Fraser Nelson in saying things have never been better, but at the same time, a little thinking space (away from the doom-scrolling) has me thinking that maybe Britain isn’t as irredeemably broken as the populist right would have it.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think we are in a very precarious state, and on a slow march to civil disorder, but my thinking of late, particularly my work on policy, has given me some fresh hope. While a lot of things are broken, solutions do exist - and while some policy areas require some difficult long-term reforms, putting us back on track isn’t such a huge mountain to climb.

While we have a great many technical and legal problems to overcome, perhaps one of the most crucial things we need to address is public morale. Faith in democracy is collapsing, as is trust in the justice system, and there’s a growing sense that we are incapable of arresting the decline. But it need not be that way.

While many of the problems we face are structural, I happen to think a lot can be fixed just with renewed and energised leadership. We saw a small demonstration of this from Robert Jenrick just recently, when he set about highlighting the scourge of London Underground fare dodgers. Just a sharp kick up the arse and TfL got their arses into gear overnight.

This is basic broken windows theory, which in criminology proposes that visible signs of crime and civil disorder create an environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including more serious crimes. It suggests that addressing minor infractions can prevent more significant problems from developing. This is also why we need a renewed focus on shoplifting. I will have much more to say on this in policing policy over the next few weeks.

I happen to think that we’d see a marked improvement if most areas of government just had leadership with the right priorities. The perception of two-tier policing is as much to do with misplaced enforcement priorities as the law. Police commanders need to be more concerned with preventing crime than managing narratives. Just like when you’re losing a war, winning a battle can restore a little hope. Even small wins can make a huge difference.

I would also venture that our physical surroundings have a great deal of bearing on public morale. It’s not difficult to see why much of the country does not share Fraser Nelson’s rose tinted view that “if you could choose any era to live in Britain, but not your place in society, you’d choose right now”. Much of Britain is derelict.

Earlier this week I was up in Gateshead to speak at a local New Culture Forum event. It’s a funny old place where there are pockets of regeneration, but on the whole Gateshead makes Bradford feel upbeat and prosperous.

What I found particularly enraging was the way in which the old town hall and public library have been left empty and derelict. There are derelict buildings that, in any other city, would be prime real estate. Meanwhile, the modernised part of the town (pictured) is utterly soulless and depressing. Little wonder then that the people themselves are depressed.

There is no good reason why our heritage should have been left to rot like this, and it shouldn’t take much to put it right. All that’s needed is some vision, some political energy, and for somebody to give a shit. This is where housing and town planning will feature heavily in my upcoming policy project. Some of my thinking has already influenced the Homeland Party’s housing policy.

What I also noticed about Gateshead was the congregations of vagrants, alcoholics and addicts. I’ve seen much the same recently in Grimsby and Sheffield. The people are as derelict as the buildings.

Part of restoring towns is making them safe and pleasant places to be. Having taken my proper camera with me, I didn’t feel at all safe about walking around town with it (so I didn’t), and I certainly wasn’t happy about leaving my car unattended in a council car park. But this is how towns die. This is why we need to enforce vagrancy laws. Again, just a little enforcement goes a long way.

This ties in with many of my broader themes about problem immigration. Illegal immigration in particular is a symptom of collapsing civic administration, where illegals can live and work in our towns without fear of detection, to the extent that we have money laundering fronts operating in broad daylight on our high streets. We may see the occasional crackdown initiated by central government, but what we need to see is sustained local authority enforcement.

Again, turning things around is not necessarily a matter of “root and branch reform”. It’s just a matter of local councils doing more of what they should do and less of what they shouldn’t. Which, again, is a matter of strategic vision and leadership. With some energetic leadership we could see a marked turnaround inside a year. Just a change of atmosphere can bring us back from the brink.

For thirty years now, local politicians have dabbled with regeneration, but it seldom works. The effects of a large cash injection seldom have longevity. Grimsby had a major overhaul in the nineties, and thirty years later it looks worse than it would have done had they just left it alone. Real regeneration means rebuilding town centre communities and restoring a sense of pride. You can’t do that with just a lick of paint.

The big question, though, is where is this leadership coming from? Robert Jenrick, I suppose, is the example to follow. In taking on fare-dodgers and shoplifters, he’s highlighting why the small things matter. But it will take more than that. Good leadership is confident leadership - and confidence comes from knowing what is broken, how it got broke, and how to fix it. Which brings us back to having decent policy research. That is the ultimate foundation of revival. It’s just a shame so few people are interested in doing it.