The Bunker – News without the nonsense Crisis Management – How we got 25 years of British political chaos
Dec 16, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Andrew Hindmoor, a professor of politics and author of Haywire, shares insights into 25 years of British political chaos. He explores the difference between avoidable and inevitable crises, highlighting Iraq’s impact on public trust and Labour’s decline. Hindmoor critiques the structural issues in finance and governance, argues Brexit was inevitable due to systemic failures, and reflects on the blurred lines between crisis and stability in politics. His call for reform and a new understanding of crises is both timely and thought-provoking.
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Crisis Became The Default Setting
- Britain has repeatedly faced crises since 2000 that shifted governance from steady policy to constant reaction.
- The 2008 financial crisis marked a turning point amplified by deliberate financial deregulation under New Labour.
Returning From Australia Reframed Centralisation
- Andrew Hindmoor describes returning from Australia and being struck by Britain's extreme centralisation centered on London.
- He contrasts that with Australia's federal state where regions have much more autonomy.
Party Power Persists Despite Lost Trust
- Britain's systemic problems include centralisation, dominance of finance, and weakening political parties.
- Political parties still control policymaking despite plummeting public trust and activist self-awareness of being unrepresentative.
