Imagine a grand, marbled hall in London, filled with five influential, election-winning center-left leaders from across the globe. Normally, such a gathering would radiate confidence and power, a clear demonstration of strength for liberal politics.
However, these aren’t normal times. Today, these very leaders – including Canada’s Mark Carney, Australia’s Anthony Albanese, and Britain’s own Prime Minister Keir Starmer – are convening at a critical juncture, facing unprecedented challenges that threaten the very core of their progressive ideals.
Across the globe, center-left governments are grappling with a complex landscape: volatile electorates, sluggish economic growth, and deeply divisive debates on immigration. These factors have opened the door wide for right-wing populist movements to gain traction. Even in the United States, the Democratic Party finds itself struggling, still searching for an effective narrative to counter the enduring influence of former President Trump.
Speaking passionately at the Global Progress Action Summit, Prime Minister Starmer championed progressive politics, fully aware of the formidable opposition he faces at home. His Labour Party is currently trailing Nigel Farage’s anti-immigrant Reform U.K. by nearly ten points in recent polls, underscoring the urgency of their discussions.
Recognizing the widespread concerns over immigration, Starmer sought to strike a balance. He unveiled plans for a mandatory digital ID system, which supporters believe could be a key tool in deterring undocumented workers.
Starmer declared, ‘This is the defining political choice of our times.’ He characterized the populist right’s approach as ‘a politics of predatory grievance, preying on the problems of working people and using the infrastructure of division.’ In stark contrast, he urged the nation to embrace ‘the politics of patriotic renewal, rooted in communities and dedicated to building a better country.’
Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research—a British think tank that co-organized the summit with Labour Together and the Center for American Progress Action Fund—noted the timely nature of the meeting. He observed that ‘citizens across the world are increasingly rejecting mainstream politics,’ highlighting the critical need for new strategies.
Fresh from hosting former President Trump last week, Starmer is set to engage with prominent American opponents of the ex-president. Among them are Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Pete Buttigieg, who previously served as Secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration. Their presence offers a chance for shared insights and strategies.
For the attending Democrats, this summit presents a crucial opportunity to start shaping a political strategy for a potential post-Trump landscape. Key discussions will include formulating a progressive response to the tariffs initiated by the previous Trump administration.
Fred Hochberg, who directed the Export-Import Bank during the Obama presidency, emphasized a core principle: ‘The focus is on meeting voters where they are, which is the cost of living and inflation.’ He concluded that ‘that’s where progressives need to focus’ their efforts.
Prime Minister Starmer, who assumed power just 14 months prior, finds this summit coinciding with a period of intense political vulnerability. Despite some achievements internationally, a series of miscalculations and recent high-profile resignations have cast a shadow over his leadership, especially as the Labour Party prepares for its annual conference this Sunday.
Adding to Starmer’s challenges, Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester and a potential rival, recently articulated a more left-leaning vision for Labour in two interviews, openly diverging from the current party line. While Burnham isn’t expected to launch a leadership bid imminently (he would first need a parliamentary seat), the significant attention his pronouncements garnered highlighted Starmer’s precarious position.
Further complicating matters, Labour members are poised to elect a new deputy leader after Angela Rayner, who also served as deputy prime minister, resigned amidst a tax scandal. This internal contest has effectively transformed into a direct test of Starmer’s leadership, with his detractors openly considering voting against his favored candidate.
According to some political analysts, the Labour Party was ill-prepared for the responsibilities of governance following last year’s election. They were perhaps complacent, lulled into a false sense of security by the tumultuous reign of their Conservative predecessors, who cycled through five prime ministers in a mere seven years.
John McTernan, a political strategist and former advisor to Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, commented, ‘The Labour Party made the mistake of thinking, ‘If we simply govern competently that’s a huge bonus for the country and the country will be pleased.’’ He asserted that for voters, competent and stable governance is merely the baseline expectation, not a bonus.
Voters’ frustrations persist as inflation remains untamed and concrete improvements in healthcare are scarce. Critics suggest that Starmer’s technocratic leadership style and somewhat uninspired communication have left many feeling uncertain about the government’s true direction and vision.
Claire Ainsley, Starmer’s former policy director, acknowledged the daunting economic hurdles the government inherited: a sluggish economy, neglected public services, and substantial national debt. She emphasized that Starmer’s primary challenge now is to articulate a more defined and compelling political vision.
Furthermore, Neera Tanden, CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund and a veteran of the Biden administration, believes that center-left parties must more effectively highlight the real-world consequences of populist agendas.
Ms. Tanden cautioned, ‘In our country, the divisive and nationalist rhetoric can be very appealing.’ However, she pointed out that ‘The Trump administration’s policies are harming working-class people disproportionately — it’s their health care that’s being lost, their utility prices that are going up. I think it’s a warning sign to the world,’ underscoring the global implications of such political trends.