Billed to be ‘The Crash’, author, journalist and commentator Robert Peston’s recent novel, the session in The College Memorial Hall turned out to be about another of his works – ‘How to Run Britain’. Introduced and prompted by James Harding, former ‘Times’ Editor and Director of BBC News, Marlborough’s LitFest audience of several hundred packing into The College’s Memorial Hall were handed the opportunity to have the lid lifted just a bit by someone who knows British politics. Someone who is there – observing, listening, interpreting every day – from very near to the centre of what happens rather than at the edges and through the various colourful media offerings that we – the public at large are fed.
A fascinating and captivating hour. What faces us all now is a new Government. Different – we expect – from what has been occupying the benches to the right of the Speaker in the House of Commons for the pervious fourteen years. A new prime Minister, Keir Starmer with whom Robert has just spent an interesting globe-trotting week (as Political Editor of ITV). At the start of last week it was Liverpool, the Labour Party’s first Conference as a governing party for fifteen years. Then New York, the General Assembly of the United Nations where the Prime Minister delivered what Robert noted was his most notable speech, to date. But today, no Keir Stamer, it was the turn of Marlborough. Truly globe-trotting…..
Starmer and Labour face an ‘interesting’ future. Massive majority, but as Robert pointed out it was about twenty percent of the electorate who gave them that majority. A second term is not a given (normally almost assumed by any party delivering a landslide in a General Election) but not now. As Robert noted, Labour will have to prove that they can serve (all of) our interests to be given that second term. They will have to earn it.
Any Government focuses inevitably on the leader, the Prime Minister. In Chapter 10 (Our Not-A- Manifesto) of ‘How to Run Britain’ and in his talk Robert set out the (three) qualities that he regarded as being central to Keir Starmer. What makes him. ‘Genuinely difficult to sum up’ was how he described him, which set him apart from just about every other Political Leader of this country and beyond in living memory. In Robert’s words he is ‘the most ruthless and unsentimental political leader I’ve ever known’. And ‘he’s remarkably determined and focused once he’s set his mind on doing something’.
And he has a job. Because the Country is in dire need of investment for infrastructure, in every area (geographically and by sector). And – in answer to a question at the end about the NHS and investment, Robert was unequivocal about the need for capital investment. In scanners for example as cancer mortality is far higher here then elsewhere in the developed world, and the cost of dealing with patients when the condition is advanced due to lack of early diagnosis, the costs – financial and personal – are astronomical, but with the right equipment less costly. One example, but just one of many that could be described in our health system. Capital has been used to fund the day-to-day current running of the NHS, hence the crisis of today.
Robert talked about how Britain’s place in the world had become eroded over recent years, particularly since Brexit as whereas Britain was previously seen by the major areas of the world (China, US, even Russia) as a bridge into Europe, now the UK is ‘just another middle-size country’, with all that entails.
And lots more. Plenty that related to Britain now and going forwards, but also in the relatively recent past. Asked ‘who were the worst three Prime Ministers in recent years, Robert thought for a moment and then noted Brexit – the damage that this move away from Europe has done to the health of our economy and world standing; the ‘mini budget’ of Autumn ’22, which devastated the confidence of the International investing community in the British economy; and the issues of ‘truth’ or using another word – ‘integrity’ – relating to one particular recent PM. Cameron sowed the seeds for and created the febrile environment that foisted Brexit; Truss, in her very few days in Downing St and the significant damage she wrought on the standing of the UK economy; and of course, Boris, for the other issue. Who took Gold, Silver, and who took Bronze James Harding asked. ‘They all shared Gold’ was Robert’s reply……
Whilst we all expected to hear Robert Peston talk about ‘The Crash’ his latest novel what we heard was fascinating, timely and a real eye-opener into politics. Everywhere, but specifically here in the UK, and what we are currently facing and the range of choices that the new large majority Labour Government face.
About the novels, he was asked, why write them when you have so any other books? Fun. His simple answer, but supported by the notion that he could get away, in fiction by saying things and making comments about individuals that characters in his novels may be based on. But as it’s fiction and – of course – the characters aren’t identifiable, he wouldn’t get sued. He noted, with a grin.
Thought provoking, timely, relevant to us all, and – surprisingly, not party political, just political. A ‘rich’ hour and an hour well spent. ‘How to Run Britain‘ by Robert Peston.
LitFest Reviews: Children’s Authors – Emily Randall-Jones & Matthew Fox
