The Sunday Take: Promises won’t cut it, government needs shovels in the ground to show how they are delivering better opportunity.

by Matthew McPherson, Policy and Public Affairs Director

This week started with bleak news for the Conservatives. New polling showed that millennials are turning against the party in record numbers, with only 21% planning to vote Conservative at the next election next year. It’s an electoral timebomb, and the Conservatives will eventually run out of road if they don’t start winning over younger voters. 

Whilst a promise to ‘Get Brexit Done’ dominated the 2019 General Election, Boris Johnson also delivered a message of hope to communities across the country - to invest in areas that had felt forgotten and ignored for too long. 

Over the last three years we’ve heard a lot about the government’s plans, from the creation of a new government Department for its delivery, to the announcement of billions in funding for projects. But talk to voters on the doorstep, and they’ll too often say they don’t think anything has changed. 

Fundamentally, whether you call it improving opportunities, levelling up, social mobility, or something else entirely, it means the same thing - regenerating communities and delivering change. 

These things matter, and most people have positive ideas about how to improve their local communities, and can see the potential if they are given a chance. But after 13 years of a Conservative government, and the economic chaos of Liz Truss’ short-lived administration, promises alone simply won’t be enough for voters - they want to see action, and that means getting shovels in the ground. 

That can mean multi billion-pound, long-term projects - take, for example, the rebuild of the Airedale Hospital in West Yorkshire announced last week - but it can also be about spending relatively small amounts of money to improve high streets and town centres, and crucially, encouraging purpose-led private sector organisations to invest. 

One of the best such examples of the public and private sector working in collaboration is taking place in Derby. Aukus, the new defence agreement announced in March between the UK, US and Australia, means reactors for the new fleet are set to be produced by Derby-based Rolls-Royce - a new Purpose Coalition Member. That means the potential for thousands of new jobs, more investment, and better opportunities. 

As the voice of Purpose-led organisations, the Purpose Coalition works closely with both UK Power Networks and Essex County Council, and through our partnership, the two organisations are now working together to support areas of need that have been identified in Essex County Council’s Purpose Coalition Impact report. This will include a four week work experience programme, primary school reading support, and ‘donate a day’ activities for UK Power Networks’ employees. That’s private-sector driven opportunities in action, an example to organisations across the country wanting to play their part. 

The Conservatives are behind in the polls, but with a Prime Minister significantly more popular than his party. For any Conservative MP seeking re-election next year, they need tangible examples of how they’ve delivered on the promises of 2019. It could be the regeneration of a local high street, a new school or hospital, or even funding to support a local sports club, but they need action, not more promises of future delivery. 

As the voice of Purpose-led organisations, the Purpose Coalition is working with some of the most innovative to share best practice, and develop solutions for improving the role that organisations can play for their customers, colleagues and communities. After COVID-19 and the effects of the cost of living crisis, people are eager for change, and they want to see a tangible improvement in their local communities, with better prospects for the next generation. 

My Sunday Take is that, If it wants people’s support again, the government needs to be much clearer in showing what it is delivering.