As we emerge into a new year, the labor movement must, with renewed vigor, pursue a social and economic vision that can address the deep structural inequalities these pandemic years have exposed. Doing this requires major transformation — and won’t be achieved by skirting around the edges.

The central cause of this inequality remains the political imposition by successive governments of financialized capitalism, deindustrialization, and austerity — moves which took our country from being one of the most equal in Europe in 1978 to currently one of the most unequal. It’s no surprise most working people desire change more than ever, and unless the Left understands and embraces this, the Right will fill the vacuum. This is what happened with great success in the run-up to the 2019 general election, as communities were divided over an unresolved Brexit.

More positively, we can celebrate current trends emerging in local and regional government that respond bravely to the failures of capitalism by seeking to democratize our economies. This narrative was barely heard a decade ago.