In this episode of Explaining History, Nick takes a hard look at the state of the British Left in late 2025. With the Starmer government firmly entrenched in “continuity ThatcherismMonetarism Monetarism is the economic school of thought associated with Milton Friedman, which rose to dominance as a counter to Keynesian economics. It posits that inflation is always a monetary phenomenon and that the government’s role should be limited to managing the currency rather than stimulating demand. Key Mechanisms: Inflation Targeting: Using interest rates to keep inflation low, even if high interest rates cause recession or unemployment. Fiscal Restraint: Opposing government deficit spending to boost the economy during downturns. Critical Perspective:Critics argue that monetarism breaks the post-war social contract. By prioritizing “sound money” and low inflation above all else, monetarist policies often induce deliberately high unemployment to discipline the labor force and suppress wages. It represents a technical solution to political problems, removing economic policy from democratic accountability. ,” the opposition has splintered. We analyze the chaotic founding conference of the new left-wing coalition, “Your Party,” led by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.

From walkouts and factional disputes to the return of the “spectre of entryism” by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), we explore why the Left seems addicted to infighting at the moments it is needed most. Is the new Green Party under Zack Polanski the only viable home for progressives, or can the new Independent alliance survive its own birth?

Key Topics:

• The Post-2024 Landscape: How Labour abandoned the Left.
• The “Your Party” Crisis: Inside the chaotic first conference and Zarah Sultana’s walkout.
• The Return of Entryism: How the SWP and open membership could kill the new party.
• Green Shoots: The rise of Zack Polanski’s Green Party as a serious socialist alternative

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