Funding the Future Left vs Right is dead
Dec 2, 2025
British politics is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The old left-right divide is fading, replaced by a crucial choice: care or neglect. Major parties have merged into a neoliberal consensus prioritizing finance over public needs. This shift has led to cultural grievances overshadowing economic competence. A politics of care aims to prioritize public wellbeing, challenge inequality, and reclaim democratic authority. The conversation highlights a growing voter cynicism and the urgent need for investment in community and ecological sustainability.
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Left-Right Labels Are Obsolete
- The traditional left-right political map no longer explains UK politics because parties converge on neoliberal economics.
- Richard Murphy argues a single transferable party rotates brands while policies remain antisocial and market-first.
Both Sides Prioritise Market Orthodoxy
- Both the nominal left and right now prioritise fiscal rules or culture wars over public care and social justice.
- Murphy highlights that fiscal prudence trumps social need and inequality is tolerated as necessary.
The New Divide: Care Versus Neglect
- The new political divide is care versus neglect, not left versus right.
- Murphy defines care as collective well‑being, public goods, ecological respect and investment serving society's needs.