“That´s a very good question” was the response of Sir Bernard Jenkin MP , usually a sign in politics that there is no comfortable answer. The question was phrased slightly more delicately by myself (as can be heard in the audio below) but that is the crux of it. Sir Bernard was speaking alongside Graeme Downie MP at Español´s “Wake up Spain!” event last week, one of the largest economic forums here in Spain.
Whilst Spanish business leaders were talking about the need to wake up to AI and its opportunities for Spain, British speakers such as the aforementioned MP´s and ex Head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove had come to deliver a different message: Europe (and the UK) needs to wake up and rearm against Russian aggression. From underwater cables being cut to digital infrastructure being breached, the aggression is already there. “If people don´t fight for their freedom, they will lose it” was Sir Bernard´s remarks, taking of the need to be blunt.
A society not worth defending
So in the spirit of bluntness, why would any young person fight for these societies? We all know the statistics, people well into their 30´s increasingly own no property, have no real chance of owning a home unless they can rely on the death of a relative and with it, any chance of stable family life. Burdened with massive debts from the largely worthless degrees they were peddled onto, by a political class who traded confronting pensioners and landlords for the easy option of indulging them.
The real kicker for many was post pandemic, after young people (and really we are talking about people well into their mid to late 30´s ) had the economy shutdown and forced to stay in rat-traps in major cities to protect (you guessed it) the elderly population. What was the reward? Was there suddenly an acknowledgement that the social contract had been breached and that reciprocity was in order? No.
Before you could say “winter fuel allowance” it was back to people who bought their house off the state at a massive discount, safely cocooned with rising asset values, whining about lazy young people wasting their money at Pret. The deathknell is the laughably named Reform stating the triple lock will stay. The post war generation have shown who they are and it is, quite frankly, unworthy of fighting for.
The consequence
The political consequences here in Spain and in other European countries are obvious. Here in Spain, Vox are the most popular party for voters 18-25 and it´s not even close. In Germany , the AFD is the plurality choice for young voters and significantly by men. The AFD would be the largest party at a German election if held now. If to be a “moderate” is to mean no young man will ever have the dignity of their own home and a family, who wouldn´t be an extremist?
With apologies to Graeme Downie MP
So this then, is the reality. However, one man may have started to breach the chasm that exists and by doing so, speedrun his way to being Britain´s most hated MP. Graeme Downie MP in his comments was surprisingly frank, “Young people have gone through their fourth once in a lifetime crisis” were his words but more strong was his article after the event. Calling for the holy grails of entitlement, the triple lock pension and housing asset values, to be reformed.
He points out that the triple lock is on course to cost 15 billion more by 2029-30 than estimated but more than the numbers is the bravery in politics to say the quiet bit aloud. Already the predictable “I worked my whole life ” brigade are out in force. Only in the deepest recesses of reddit will this be popular and is genuinely the type of comments that can cost someone their seat at elections. All the more reason to respect Graeme for doing it. It is the kind of honest politics people say they want but when they are confronted with it, shy away from.
Will it make a difference on its own? No, but at least someone in politics is able to confront reality and the only cost was to be the new most hated MP in British politics. My apologies Graeme.
Featured Image taken by David Morales and used with permission of LLYC