After almost 20 years of poor economic performance, the U.K. has emerged as the next ground zero for the far right. Sclerotic growth , stagnant real wages , and crumbling public services are generating profound dissatisfaction. Economic optimism is now at its lowest level since records began; worse than even Britain’s “winter of discontent” in 1978, the 2008 crash, and the COVID pandemic.

Yet Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who last July won one of the biggest parliamentary majorities in recent times, seems unable or unwilling to respond.

There’s a striking moment in his interview with The New Statesman months ago, where the Labour leader is asked if the country is “fundamentally broken.” “No,” he replies, making the case that his government will deliver the stability that Brita

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