As 2024 comes to a close, a short moment to share a couple of my reflections and highlights on the year:
It has been another year for the rise of a number of notable populist leaders, often at the cost of progressive centrists. This is now a clear trend and I think we need to find different and more positive ways to respond to this. This is a topic I will be reflecting and writing more about during 2025. I plan to write my next blog here on the topic.
A highlight for me this year was listening to Angela Merkel returning to the stage and discussing her memoirs. I have always admired her pragmatic approach, especially her emphasis on the importance of patience and going ‘more slowly’ to achieve sustainable, long-term outcomes. While it can be tempting to rush for change (and sometimes necessary), I wholeheartedly agree that a measured and more purposeful pace often yields better results.
I also found Alexei Navalny’s memoir, ‘Patriot’ both inspiring and enlightening. He will definitely go down by most in the free world for having fought for the very long term and he will in my mind go down as a key figure in history for his bravery and commitment to democratic and progressive ideals. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the value of free speech and open debate—something I very much cherish in our own country.
I am delighted that in the UK, we are back and accelerating our path to clean power. I feel privileged to be asked to take a leadership role in helping this transition and I will do my absolute best to create the most long-term societal value, including many great green jobs from this exciting (and not easy) journey.
Looking forward, it will remain challenging and tempting to believe that there are quick fixes to the many complex problems facing the world. But there aren’t any, and we progressive centrists need to stay the course, act long-term, and in time prove that our way provides better outcomes – and find ways to communicate these better.
Wishing you all the very best in the coming year 2025!