The UK does not lack talent. It does not lack good universities. It does not lack creative people, ambitious founders, world-class researchers, skilled designers, clever engineers or globally respected institutions. What it lacks is a coherent economic story.
The calls for Keir Starmer to resign are understandable. Labour has taken a serious beating in the local elections. The government looks exhausted less than two years after winning a landslide. Reform is pulling voters away on the right. The Greens are pulling voters away on the left. Starmer’s personal authority is badly damaged, and recent polling suggests the electorate has fragmented in a way that should terrify anybody hoping for a straightforward Labour recovery.
So the obvious response is to change the leader. I think that would be a mistake.
Author’s note: The below essay is a piece of speculative fiction. It’s not reportage, it’s not a prediction, and it’s not intended to describe, depict, or accuse any real political party, public figure, broadcaster, department, policy, or event. The policies, quotes, characters, and actions in this story are entirely invented for narrative purposes. What I’m trying to explore is how ordinary people — people like the characters you’ll meet — could end up accepting things we’d currently call unthinkable. Treat this as a near-future ghost story about economics, belonging, and what we’re willing to normalise when we’re scared.
Across the UK, many post-industrial towns and seaside high streets feel tired — dominated by charity shops, low-investment chain stores, and shuttered units. This lack of vibrancy erodes civic pride, reduces footfall, and discourages entrepreneurship.
Spend any time in Japan and it becomes obvious why so many designers treat it like a pilgrimage. It isn’t just the neon of Shinjuku or the minimalism of Muji that draws them in. It’s something more fundamental: a culture of care that seeps into every interaction, every sign, and every surface.
Here's a slightly random list of cool and unusual things I've done over the years. If you find yourself chatting to me at a conference, party or social event and are unsure what to talk about, feel free to pick something from this list to ask me about.