Joe Dromey
@joedromey.bsky.social
General Secretary of The Fabian Society. Formerly IPPR, Learning & Work Institute and Central London Forward. Recovering Cllr. Passionate about good work, inclusive growth & tackling inequality.
Pinned
The government is being squeezed between twin populisms of the right and of the left.
We need to confront both, and to deliver bold change that improves lives and tackles inequality.
Good to speak to @guardianheather.bsky.social at @theguardian.com about our work at @thefabians.bsky.social.
We need to confront both, and to deliver bold change that improves lives and tackles inequality.
Good to speak to @guardianheather.bsky.social at @theguardian.com about our work at @thefabians.bsky.social.
Reposted by Joe Dromey
📢 New Year Conference: Renewing Britain
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness,
@allymcgovern.bsky.social!
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness,
@allymcgovern.bsky.social!
January 5, 2026 at 4:36 PM
📢 New Year Conference: Renewing Britain
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness,
@allymcgovern.bsky.social!
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness,
@allymcgovern.bsky.social!
Reposted by Joe Dromey
📢 New Year Conference: Renewing Britain
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister the Indo-Pacific, and Equalities, @seemamalhotra-mp.bsky.social!
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister the Indo-Pacific, and Equalities, @seemamalhotra-mp.bsky.social!
January 5, 2026 at 4:38 PM
📢 New Year Conference: Renewing Britain
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister the Indo-Pacific, and Equalities, @seemamalhotra-mp.bsky.social!
Joining us for the Fabian Society New Year Conference 2026 - Minister the Indo-Pacific, and Equalities, @seemamalhotra-mp.bsky.social!
So, let me get this straight; I can’t describe Polanski as a populist - despite the fact that he uses the term describe himself - because you wish he’d stop using that term?
January 2, 2026 at 6:42 PM
So, let me get this straight; I can’t describe Polanski as a populist - despite the fact that he uses the term describe himself - because you wish he’d stop using that term?
You don’t have to read it. Up to you.
But excuse me if I don’t take your critiques of my argument very seriously if you literally haven’t read them.
But excuse me if I don’t take your critiques of my argument very seriously if you literally haven’t read them.
January 2, 2026 at 3:03 PM
You don’t have to read it. Up to you.
But excuse me if I don’t take your critiques of my argument very seriously if you literally haven’t read them.
But excuse me if I don’t take your critiques of my argument very seriously if you literally haven’t read them.
I don’t. You just made that up.
January 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I don’t. You just made that up.
I agree that Reform are genuinely dangerous.
I don’t think they are equivalent, and I didn’t say they are.
I’ve just explained the electoral challenge Labour is facing: being squeezed between populists on the right and on the left.
I don’t think they are equivalent, and I didn’t say they are.
I’ve just explained the electoral challenge Labour is facing: being squeezed between populists on the right and on the left.
January 2, 2026 at 2:58 PM
I agree that Reform are genuinely dangerous.
I don’t think they are equivalent, and I didn’t say they are.
I’ve just explained the electoral challenge Labour is facing: being squeezed between populists on the right and on the left.
I don’t think they are equivalent, and I didn’t say they are.
I’ve just explained the electoral challenge Labour is facing: being squeezed between populists on the right and on the left.
I say in the interview that Labour should stand up more against Reform on immigration. Nothing I have said suggests Labour should tack right. Give it a read.
January 2, 2026 at 2:56 PM
I say in the interview that Labour should stand up more against Reform on immigration. Nothing I have said suggests Labour should tack right. Give it a read.
I do not. It’s been proven not to work. And nothing I say in the interview suggests I do. Give it a read.
January 2, 2026 at 2:52 PM
I do not. It’s been proven not to work. And nothing I say in the interview suggests I do. Give it a read.
I’m not saying Labour should mimic the right. Quite the opposite. I said in the interview that they should stand up more strongly against Reform on immigration. Give it a read.
January 2, 2026 at 2:51 PM
I’m not saying Labour should mimic the right. Quite the opposite. I said in the interview that they should stand up more strongly against Reform on immigration. Give it a read.
I argue in the interview that Labour should stand up more strongly against Reform on immigration, that they should not have ruled out tax increases pre-election, and that they should invest more in boosting pay for care workers. None of this is right wing.
January 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
I argue in the interview that Labour should stand up more strongly against Reform on immigration, that they should not have ruled out tax increases pre-election, and that they should invest more in boosting pay for care workers. None of this is right wing.
Have you even read the interview?
The things I recommend - standing up more strongly against Reform on immigration, not ruling out main tax rises ahead of election, and big increase in pay for care workers - are all to the left of current policy.
The things I recommend - standing up more strongly against Reform on immigration, not ruling out main tax rises ahead of election, and big increase in pay for care workers - are all to the left of current policy.
January 2, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Have you even read the interview?
The things I recommend - standing up more strongly against Reform on immigration, not ruling out main tax rises ahead of election, and big increase in pay for care workers - are all to the left of current policy.
The things I recommend - standing up more strongly against Reform on immigration, not ruling out main tax rises ahead of election, and big increase in pay for care workers - are all to the left of current policy.
I say in the interview that I think Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform. Give it a read.
January 2, 2026 at 2:37 PM
I say in the interview that I think Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform. Give it a read.
I agree with you. That is exactly the point I was making in the interview. Labour needs to push back harder against Reform.
January 2, 2026 at 10:10 AM
I agree with you. That is exactly the point I was making in the interview. Labour needs to push back harder against Reform.
Nope. The first campaign I got involved in was the fight against the far right in Barking. And I say in this very interview that Labour should stand up more strongly against Reform.
January 2, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Nope. The first campaign I got involved in was the fight against the far right in Barking. And I say in this very interview that Labour should stand up more strongly against Reform.
@danielsereduick.bsky.social @danielsexton.bsky.social there is no moral equivalence between Reform & Greens. Farage is dangerous. I said in interview Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform.
But Polanski has described his own platform as populism www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
But Polanski has described his own platform as populism www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘I thought politics was a dirty thing’ – Zack Polanski on his ‘eco-populist’ vision for the Green party
He’s worked as an actor and a hypnotherapist – and has even been arrested. The Greens’ leadership challenger has had an unconventional route into politics and he’s ready to take on Labour and Reform
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:21 AM
@danielsereduick.bsky.social @danielsexton.bsky.social there is no moral equivalence between Reform & Greens. Farage is dangerous. I said in interview Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform.
But Polanski has described his own platform as populism www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
But Polanski has described his own platform as populism www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Don’t think the options you pose are mutually exclusive.
Labour didn’t break letter of manifesto. And the decisions they made on tax increases means they won’t need to cut spending.
But it would have been much better had they not hemmed themselves in in the first place.
Labour didn’t break letter of manifesto. And the decisions they made on tax increases means they won’t need to cut spending.
But it would have been much better had they not hemmed themselves in in the first place.
December 31, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Don’t think the options you pose are mutually exclusive.
Labour didn’t break letter of manifesto. And the decisions they made on tax increases means they won’t need to cut spending.
But it would have been much better had they not hemmed themselves in in the first place.
Labour didn’t break letter of manifesto. And the decisions they made on tax increases means they won’t need to cut spending.
But it would have been much better had they not hemmed themselves in in the first place.
Good question.
I think the most important thing is to not make promises that bind your hands, as Labour did.
But once made, it’s important not to break central manifesto commitments. This is corrosive to trust.
Plus I think the changes they did make at budget, incl thresholds, avoided austerity.
I think the most important thing is to not make promises that bind your hands, as Labour did.
But once made, it’s important not to break central manifesto commitments. This is corrosive to trust.
Plus I think the changes they did make at budget, incl thresholds, avoided austerity.
December 31, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Good question.
I think the most important thing is to not make promises that bind your hands, as Labour did.
But once made, it’s important not to break central manifesto commitments. This is corrosive to trust.
Plus I think the changes they did make at budget, incl thresholds, avoided austerity.
I think the most important thing is to not make promises that bind your hands, as Labour did.
But once made, it’s important not to break central manifesto commitments. This is corrosive to trust.
Plus I think the changes they did make at budget, incl thresholds, avoided austerity.
I do not think Greens are anywhere near as bad as Reform.
Labour has done a lot that is left wing. Big increase in tax & borrowing to fund investment & spending, renters reform & employment rights act.
I just argue that Labour is squeezed by populists on left and right, and they must combat both.
Labour has done a lot that is left wing. Big increase in tax & borrowing to fund investment & spending, renters reform & employment rights act.
I just argue that Labour is squeezed by populists on left and right, and they must combat both.
December 31, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I do not think Greens are anywhere near as bad as Reform.
Labour has done a lot that is left wing. Big increase in tax & borrowing to fund investment & spending, renters reform & employment rights act.
I just argue that Labour is squeezed by populists on left and right, and they must combat both.
Labour has done a lot that is left wing. Big increase in tax & borrowing to fund investment & spending, renters reform & employment rights act.
I just argue that Labour is squeezed by populists on left and right, and they must combat both.
I just don’t think the £15bn figure is credible.
It’s significantly above any wealth tax in Europe.
I would love it if we could solve our fiscal challenge through wealth tax on best off. Just don’t think that’s possible.
It’s significantly above any wealth tax in Europe.
I would love it if we could solve our fiscal challenge through wealth tax on best off. Just don’t think that’s possible.
December 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I just don’t think the £15bn figure is credible.
It’s significantly above any wealth tax in Europe.
I would love it if we could solve our fiscal challenge through wealth tax on best off. Just don’t think that’s possible.
It’s significantly above any wealth tax in Europe.
I would love it if we could solve our fiscal challenge through wealth tax on best off. Just don’t think that’s possible.
I say that Labour os being squeezed by populists on left and right. But I absolutely do not say, nor do I think that Polanski and Farage are equally repugnant.
In the interview, I say Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform’s extremism.
In the interview, I say Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform’s extremism.
December 31, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I say that Labour os being squeezed by populists on left and right. But I absolutely do not say, nor do I think that Polanski and Farage are equally repugnant.
In the interview, I say Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform’s extremism.
In the interview, I say Labour should stand up more strongly to Reform’s extremism.
Nope.
Labour has done structural things that will make a big difference; changing fiscal rules to boost investment, renters rights act, employment rights act. They should do more along these lines.
But Labour should also call out those who claim wealth tax is solution to our fiscal challenges.
Labour has done structural things that will make a big difference; changing fiscal rules to boost investment, renters rights act, employment rights act. They should do more along these lines.
But Labour should also call out those who claim wealth tax is solution to our fiscal challenges.
December 31, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Nope.
Labour has done structural things that will make a big difference; changing fiscal rules to boost investment, renters rights act, employment rights act. They should do more along these lines.
But Labour should also call out those who claim wealth tax is solution to our fiscal challenges.
Labour has done structural things that will make a big difference; changing fiscal rules to boost investment, renters rights act, employment rights act. They should do more along these lines.
But Labour should also call out those who claim wealth tax is solution to our fiscal challenges.
I agree with this entirely.
I say in the interview that Labour needs to oppose more loudly the extremism of Reform.
And I absolutely agree that Labour needs to deliver tangible improvements in public services and living standards.
I say in the interview that Labour needs to oppose more loudly the extremism of Reform.
And I absolutely agree that Labour needs to deliver tangible improvements in public services and living standards.
December 31, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I agree with this entirely.
I say in the interview that Labour needs to oppose more loudly the extremism of Reform.
And I absolutely agree that Labour needs to deliver tangible improvements in public services and living standards.
I say in the interview that Labour needs to oppose more loudly the extremism of Reform.
And I absolutely agree that Labour needs to deliver tangible improvements in public services and living standards.
To be clear, I do not think there is moral equivalence between the Greens and Reform. Polanski doesn’t offer credible solutions, but Farage is genuinely dangerous.
What I said is that if Labour wants to win, they need to take on populists on both the left and on the right.
What I said is that if Labour wants to win, they need to take on populists on both the left and on the right.
December 31, 2025 at 9:46 PM
To be clear, I do not think there is moral equivalence between the Greens and Reform. Polanski doesn’t offer credible solutions, but Farage is genuinely dangerous.
What I said is that if Labour wants to win, they need to take on populists on both the left and on the right.
What I said is that if Labour wants to win, they need to take on populists on both the left and on the right.
Or on the tax pledge specifically; we should not have made it. It wasn’t politically necessary or fiscally sensible. But once made, we couldn’t break it. Promises matter.
December 31, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Or on the tax pledge specifically; we should not have made it. It wasn’t politically necessary or fiscally sensible. But once made, we couldn’t break it. Promises matter.
A growing economy powered by clean energy, high-quality public services funded by progressive taxation, greater social and economic equality.
December 31, 2025 at 12:42 PM
A growing economy powered by clean energy, high-quality public services funded by progressive taxation, greater social and economic equality.