I am angry. I think I’ve been full of rage for a long time now. But it’s not because I hate people, it’s because I love them – well a lot of them, there are some notable exceptions, let’s not get carried away. It’s the activist mindset of ‘love and rage’, and it keeps me going.

I look around and see a political system visibly failing to respond to the greatest crises humanity has ever faced: climate breakdown, ecological collapse, grotesque inequality, democratic erosion, war, disinformation and the looming disruption of AI and automation.

And yet our politics still feels trapped in short-termism, battling for ratings in a media theatre that ignores truth, whilst our leaders are too cowardly and beholden to the system to do what is desperately needed.

Governments announce climate emergencies whilst approving fossil fuel expansion. Scientists warn of escalating risks whilst billionaires and media barons dominate public discourse. Peaceful protest is criminalised whilst corruption and environmental destruction are treated as normal, even rewarded. Immigrants are blamed for all our problems, rather than inequality and the super-rich exploiting us and the natural world. People are told there is “no money” for welfare, housing or public services – but somehow there is always money for war, subsidies for fossil fuels, or corporate bailouts.

We feel the disconnect. We feel betrayed. Trust in politics is collapsing – it’s already disintegrating. When democratic systems fail to respond to real suffering, people begin searching for alternatives, and as history has shown us they aren’t always good ones. If democracy is perceived as incapable of solving problems, authoritarianism begins to market itself as the solution.

Winston Churchill once said democracy is the least worst form of governance. Socrates was pretty sure democracy was a mistake even though the ancient Greeks invented it. I don’t think the answer is less democracy. It is more democracy – real democracy.

We can’t go on with the current system if we want to survive and thrive. We can’t be reduced to a battle between professionalised parties and politicians every few years, filtered through billionaire-owned media and social media algorithms designed to maximise outrage. We need democratic systems capable of long-term thinking, collective intelligence and genuine public participation.

I increasingly believe citizens’ assemblies must become central to political decision-making. Not just public consultations, but carefully managed exercises that governments are legally bound to act on, and which they can’t ignore. There have been lots of examples of these working, for instance with the abortion debate in Ireland.

We need real citizens’ assemblies:

• selected by sortition,
• representative of society,
• informed by expert evidence,
• independently facilitated,
• transparent,
• protected from lobbying and party control,
• and crucially, given real power.

Political theorist Hélène Landemore argues that wider participation often produces better outcomes than narrow elite decision-making. Diversity of experience and perspective matters. Collective intelligence matters. She talks about this in her book, Politics Without Politicians – I find the title somewhat appealing.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456838/politics-without-politicians-by-landemore-helene/9780241649169

Frankly, looking at the state of modern politics, it is difficult to argue elite governance is working well. Westminster has produced a catalogue of failures over the last two decades. The same has and is happening in the USA where one could argue matters are even worse.

Citizens’ assemblies have already shown promise in many countries helping unlock progress on issues traditional politics struggled to resolve. Imagine if they were used seriously in the UK on issues such as:

• climate and energy transition,
• AI and automation,
• housing,
• social care,
• media reform,
• constitutional reform,
• immigration,
• nature restoration.

Imagine ordinary people being trusted with complexity instead of manipulated with fear – unfettered by corporate interests and not influenced by lobbyists. Most people, when given time, evidence and the chance to deliberate together, are capable of empathy, nuance and compromise. Most people, when told the truth, with options outlined clearly, will choose what will benefit society most. Far more capable, perhaps, than the current political and media class.

Our present system rewards tribalism, outrage, short termism and even narcissism as we’ve seen across the pond. It concentrates wealth and power – there are now 177 billionaires in the UK, up six since 2021. They have a combined wealth of £653bn, roughly 22% of GDP. I found these stats on the net, which I found, frankly, shocking:

• The Top 1%: The wealthiest 1% of UK adults control 21.3% of the nation’s total wealth, which equates to a collective value in the trillions.
• Bottom 50% Comparison: By contrast, the poorest 50% of the UK population hold only about 4.6% of the country’s total wealth.
• The Richest Families: The 50 richest families in the UK hold more wealth combined than the poorest 50% of the population (roughly 34 million people)
  
  I mean, how is this morally justifiable?

The system actively selects against honesty and long-term thinking. This simply won’t work with the number of crises, many of them accelerating, that we’re facing. We need cooperation on a scale humanity has rarely achieved before and if democratic systems cannot evolve to meet that challenge, darker forces absolutely will fill the vacuum. History will repeat itself.

Given recent political events in the UK, I’ve been pondering the best, median and worst case scenarios for the next few years.

Best case scenario — “Green renewal and democratic repair”

• The Labour leadership crisis is resolved relatively quickly after a change in direction rather than descending into factional warfare, like we saw with the Tory party. Andy Burnham or a similar figure successfully reframes politics around competence, fairness, infrastructure and hope rather than managerial decline.
• Labour forms a broader coalition inside the party with stronger voices on climate, welfare, housing, democratic reform, industrial and economic strategy, immigration and public services.
• Investment in renewables, grid upgrades, home insulation, battery storage, public transport and emerging technologies accelerates. Planning reform and grid connection reform finally unblock stalled projects – without compromising nature protections.
• Electricity prices fall as the UK becomes less dependent on volatile international gas prices. Energy security improves through domestic renewable generation rather than new fossil fuel dependency.
• National infrastructure projects begin to show visible benefits – warmer homes, better rail and bus links, cleaner rivers, new jobs in retrofit and energy, more resilient local economies.
• The NHS stabilises through workforce investment, prevention, social care reform and better pay/conditions, reducing burnout and waiting lists.
• A more honest public conversation develops around immigration – explaining demographic pressures, NHS staffing needs, agriculture, care work, universities and the economic contribution of migrants. Dehumanising rhetoric loses traction.
• Public education, media literacy and local community investment help reduce support for far-right politics and conspiracy movements.
• Protest rights are partially restored. Some authoritarian legislation from recent years is rolled back. Peaceful protest and civil liberties are treated as democratic necessities rather than threats and charges are dropped against the 1000’s currently facing prosecution under anti-terrorism laws for holding cardboard placards.
• The UK adopts a more balanced and lawful international stance, including stronger pressure for ceasefires, adherence to international law and reduced political tolerance for war crimes or collective punishment. Yes, I’m referring to Israel mostly, but also in Sudan, China, Iran, Venezuela, and other parts of the world.
• New North Sea oil and gas expansion remains cancelled as renewables become economically dominant, and the UK becomes energy independent.
• Super El-Nino hits with devastating consequences.
• Farming policy shifts toward resilience – soil restoration, flood mitigation, regenerative agriculture, food security and partial dietary transition toward lower-emission food systems – plant based diet.
• AI and data-centre expansion are regulated and taxed effectively enough that some of the economic gains are recycled into public services, training and eventually forms of income support as automation increases. This could include a Universal Basic Income – we have to tax data centres as income tax revenue falls, due to job losses to AI.
• The Green Party of England and Wales continues making gains in local government and Parliament, helping keep climate and nature breakdown politically unavoidable even if not in government.
• Media reform begins to address ownership concentration, misinformation, transparency and platform accountability are addressed more seriously – see the Media Sovereignty Act.
• Despite worsening climate impacts globally, the UK becomes somewhat more resilient through adaptation planning, flood defence, insulation, energy security and social cohesion.

If Labour could manage that, I’d be both amazed and amazingly grateful.

Median case scenario — “Managed decline with partial progress”

• Labour remains in power or remains the largest poltiical force, but internal divisions and fear of media backlash limit ambition – what we have now.
• Some green infrastructure succeeds – especially renewables and grid investment (NSIPs) – but projects are slowed by planning disputes, local opposition (NIMBYs), underinvestment and institutional inertia.
• Electricity becomes somewhat cleaner, but bills remain high because housing inefficiency, the link to gas prices and infrastructure costs are not fully addressed.
• NHS pressures ease slightly in some areas but remain severe overall due to ageing demographics, staff shortages and chronic underfunding.
• Climate policy survives but is inconsistent – progress on renewable power exists alongside airport expansion (on the agenda again), road building and continued support for some fossil fuel extraction. Global emissions continue rising.
• AI expansion and automation increase inequality faster than political systems adapt to it. Productivity gains mostly flow upward into large corporations and asset owners.
• Immigration remains a toxic political issue. Neither side fully wins the argument. Public frustration continues to be channelled toward migrants rather than structural economic problems.
• Reform UK and other populist-right forces continue growing but do not fully take power. Their rhetoric shifts mainstream politics further right on migration, protest and culture-war issues.
• Protest rights remain restricted compared to previous decades, though not completely dismantled.
• Media sensationalism, billionaire influence and algorithm-driven outrage continue dominating public discourse. Trust in institutions remains low.
• Climate impacts worsen globally: crop failures, migration pressures, insurance instability and extreme weather increasingly affect everyday life and public finances. Super El-Nino hits with devastating consequences.
• The public becomes more politically cynical and emotionally exhausted rather than mobilised – stagnation.
• Living standards stagnate for many people, but outright collapse is avoided through continued state borrowing, technological adaptation and institutional resilience.
• The Greens continue gradual growth but remain structurally constrained by the electoral system – proportional representation neeeded.

Side note on data centres and AI: Politicians are failing to keep up with the pace of AI advancement, and the need for data centres to provide a viable economic model – if we don’t want to reject that model completely. In order to be competitive and fund the standards of living, welfare, healthcare, and even military resources we’re used to, then we have to move very quickly, increasing electricity production massively and quickly – which nuclear can’t do but renewables could – as well as the number of UK data centres. The alternative, which actually might be healthier and happier but fraught with peril, is to regress, become far more subsistence based, with communities really supporting one another but without luxuries, holidays and many of the privileges we’ve become used to – maybe that would be a good thing, given we have had our fair share of the carbon budget.

Worst case scenario — “Authoritarian fossil-fuel populism”

• Labour fractures after electoral defeats, leadership crises or economic shocks. Progressive politics becomes divided and demoralised.
• Reform UK or a broader right-populist coalition wins power during a period of economic stress, migration panic and institutional distrust – this could happen quite quickly.
• Net zero policies are heavily weakened or more likely abandoned. New North Sea oil and gas extraction expands while renewable deployment slows through planning obstruction and political hostility.
• Energy prices remain volatile due to continued fossil fuel dependence and international instability. More people die from the cold.
• Protest laws become significantly harsher. Direct action, climate protest and some forms of dissent are increasingly criminalised or surveilled. More prisons and detention camps are built.
• Public broadcasters and regulators face increasing political pressure. Media ecosystems become even more dominated by outrage, disinformation and billionaire influence.
• Migrants, refugees, Muslims, LGBTQ+ people and other minorities become central political scapegoats. Hate crimes and political intimidation increase.
• Democratic norms erode, but won’t collapse overnight – attacks on courts, civil society, universities, journalists and human rights frameworks become normalised. This is what happened in the 1930s.
• Economic inequality worsens sharply. Public services including the NHS deteriorate further through privatisation and austerity-style policies.
• AI-driven job losses accelerate without meaningful redistribution, retraining or welfare reform, fuelling anger and instability.
• Climate impacts intensify globally while adaptation remains inadequate – flooding, food inflation, insurance withdrawal, water stress and migration pressures become increasingly destabilising.
• International instability increases through resource conflicts, wars and geopolitical fragmentation – it’s happening now.
• More extreme far-right movements emerge claiming even right-populist governments are “too weak”, driving a further cycle of radicalisation and authoritarianism.
• Civil unrest becomes increasingly common – riots, political violence, strikes and heavy-handed policing become part of normal political life.
• Institutional trust collapses further as large parts of the public conclude the political system no longer works for them.
• Local resistance movements, trade unions, community groups, environmental organisations and some councils continue resisting and building alternative structures of solidarity and resilience – we will not be silenced, and we will not give in to fascism and hate.
• Super El-Nino hits with devastating consequences.

Did you spot the bullet point that happens in all the scenarios. It’s my example, and in the case of Super El-Nino probably inevitable, of the impacts of climate breakdown that will happen whatever we do, like sea level rise and coastal cities eventually being swamped.

These scenarios can sound pretty bleak, but the latter has too high a probability for my liking, on our current trajectory. Personally, I have lost faith in our political system, despite being a district councillor and member of the Green Party. Even in the Green Party I’ve seen the desperation to win votes mean people don’t do what is right, and that appears to be getting worse as we get bigger. I will continue to work to the best of my ability within the system, for the moment, but truly believe we need Citizens’ Assemblies to get us out of the mess we’re in.

I do not want a future built on authoritarianism, scapegoating and fear. I want one built on participation, compassion, truth and shared responsibility.

We need to rebuild democracy itself to give long term resilience, community, wellbeing and equality.

We can’t afford to give up, see you on the streets ✊

Useful links:

• Take Back Power: https://takebackpower.net/
• Draw a Smile – helping kids in Gaza: https://www.gofundme.com/f/7nryrd-draw-a-smile
• Carbon Reckoning campaign on emissions: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/carbon-reckoning/
• Defend our Juries: https://defendourjuries.net/
• Media Sovereignty Act: https://mediasovereignty.org/petition/

And here is a picture of my cat, being judgemental, because he wanted to be involved and frankly is better at governance than me.