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Welcome to the Lab from our Director, Marc Stears

What really matters as election politics heat up?

Citizen Portrait
Political competition is becoming more intense by the day here in the UK.
 
With an election looming, both major parties are trying to establish their key dividing lines against their rivals. Both the Conservatives and Labour are trying to capture attention and drag the public debate on to territory that they find most electorally attractive,
 
Whatever the arguments, however, there are some issues that are almost bound to be paramount in the public’s mind, as voters turn their attention to the choice ahead.

One of those is the functioning of the government and public services. There is an increasing sense that the fundamentals of the British state are creaking, especially when it comes to the everyday services upon which people rely, like getting an appointment with a GP or renewing a passport and driving license. Can the public service be reformed in the way that we all need it to be?
 
Another, is the economy, especially as it impacts on the everyday living standards of millions of families. After the catastrophic collapse of Liz Truss’ time as Prime Minister, people are more acutely aware than ever that bad economic stewardship can lead directly to less affordable jobs and harder times at work.
 
Finally, there is geopolitics too. With war still raging in Ukraine, people sense that the peace and attendant prosperity that many enjoyed since the end of the Cold War may well be coming to an end. And they will be asking which of the parties best grasps both the threats and the opportunities of a new international order.
 
These themes are featured in this edition of the UCL Policy Lab magazine. We have spoken to internationally regarded experts, practitioners and a leading politician about each of these challenges and asked them what gives them hope in these difficult times.

Marc Stears

Director, UCL Policy Lab

Read the latest UCL Policy Lab Magazine: Feb 2023