Now more than ever, the left must stop fighting each other—and start fighting for a better state

There is an old saying: There are no atheists in a foxhole. Perhaps, in 2020, we should update this to “there are no libertarians in a global pandemic.”

The state has been a much-maligned and abused concept of late. Fear whipped up about a ‘European superstate’ was part of the narrative that led to Brexit. In most western countries, it has been chipped away for decades by free-market fanatics. In places that are still nominally communist, it has been used as a tool of oppression, not of enhancement.

But now, as we look to our governments to see us through the worst crisis the world has faced—possibly ever—people across the political spectrum are turning to the state to guide and support us. Here in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson broadcasts to the nation flanked by chief medical officer Chris Witty and chief scientific advisor Patrick Vallance. We listen to the experts provided by that state and we heed their advice. And if that means we are unable to work, to pay mortgages or rent, we ask politicians to bring in measures to support us. 

When the 2008 crash happened, there was a sense on the left that this should have been our moment. Free market economics had so clearly failed. But what was to the left the self-evident nature of the cause led to complacency. We failed to create a narrative around that truth. 

There was no such ennui on the right. David Cameron and George Osborne created a strong and powerful narrative in the wake of the crash while Labour spent too long talking to itself about itself. By the time Ed Miliband was elected leader, it was too late—the die was cast, the narrative in place. Labour had spent too much money and now we needed to cut back the state.

And so, while people still blamed greedy bankers, they created a narrative that equally blamed politicians for overspending. The resulting austerity has crippled our public services. The fact that this is contributing to the difficulties our public services are facing now has not stopped the right from continuing with this argument. The Tax Payers Alliance recently used this moment to call for ongoing lower regulatory standards and a changed BBC and—of course—attacking the aid budget.

The right further responded to a rejection of elites not by bringing in serious-minded people, but electing men like Trump and Johnson. Men who are entertainers not leaders; neither suited to the gravity of this moment.

Meanwhile, the last few years have been largely characterised on the left by in-fighting.

In the US, divisions which came to the fore in the Democratic primary of 2016 have been exacerbated during their long contest to stand against Trump this autumn. People who supported candidates who are not the now clear winner Joe Biden are still feeling upset and aggrieved.

In the UK, Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party was a time of division so stark that those who were against him failed to see any value in the ideas he was championing and those who were for him failed to see any of the flaws in his leadership. 

Keir Starmer will need to act with tact and skill to bring together a broad coalition of the left—but cannot spend this moment looking inwards. 

Our government is spending unprecedented amounts to support citizens and businesses through this crisis—as they rightly should. But part of the reason this is needed is because public services have been allowed to atrophy for ideological reasons. Those who do not believe in the importance of a state-provided safety net have ensured there are many, many holes for people to fall through.

We can, and should, discuss what that means—and how we ensure that strong doesn’t mean oppressive. We can and should argue about what level resources should be aimed at. We can discuss how we create a state that works in this global era to regulate international businesses. We can argue about where the state has a role, and where it doesn’t, in the provision of services. But we need to be discussing this within the frame that argues for the basics of a state that enables its citizens to live good, comfortable lives. 

The left lost the narrative of the last crisis because the right was better at setting the agenda. And if you think there aren’t people on the right preparing to pick up that narrative as soon as the crisis has passed, think again and look at how the Tax Payers Alliance have responded. The battle has already started and the left need to be aware of that before it's too late.  

So call yourself a social democrat, a socialist, a progressive. Call yourself whatever you want. But together we have to fight for a proactive and enabling state.