Has Something Changed?

Thursday 20th July 2017 – 08.30-09.30

The Fable, 52 Holborn Viaduct, EC1A 2FD

UK Society and Politics: Has Something Changed?

We live in unprecedented political times. For the third summer in a row, the status quo has been rocked by an unexpected day at the polls and as we embark on the most important constitutional period in living memory it would be no great surprise if we found ourselves in the ballot box again before the year is out.

Clearly, this isn’t business as usual. But has something else happened – something rarer than politicians suffering a bout of career-ending hubris – has the mood of the nation changed?

Living standards have fallen since the recession of 2008-9 and the downturn that followed, but for the most part individuals have supported reducing public spending and reducing the deficit as a priority. Buoyed by an unexpected majority in 2015, David Cameron thought this support – articulated through the desire for economic stability – would translate into a remain vote in the EU Referendum. It didn’t.

But it is only in the last few months that a change in sentiment has been detected. Given a platform during the general election to make an unequivocal pitch for increasing public sector spending, Jeremy Corbyn secured a vote share for Labour not seen since Tony Blair’s second majority. British Social Attitudes last month detected levels of support for public spending at record highs. And the fire at Grenfell Tower has, among many other things, shone a light on a fragmented society and highly polarised incomes and living standards.

Is this the beginning of a new epoch in politics and society, or just a brief rage against the machine before we all settle down again? Join us on 20th July to find out.

Get Smarter Over Breakfast

Our Trends Breakfasts have been running for four years, and each month sees a different topic discussed and debated over coffee and croissants. Taking place on a private floor of a popular city location, an array of figures from different industries hear our thoughts on the chosen topic, which often draws on latest findings from our global attitudes and values survey, Trajectory Global Foresight.

Please email Sarah (sarah@trajectorypartnership.com) to reserve your free place and join us for breakfast.