A prominent adviser to Andy Burnham has controversially described economic growth as a "cancer" on society, urging the Labour party to abandon its "Trumpian obsession" with the concept and instead prioritize human happiness and environmental health.
Neal Lawson, director of the Labour-affiliated think-tank Compass and a close ally of Burnham, made the remarks in an article for Byline Times. Lawson, who is expected to take a position in Number 10, has previously questioned the desirability and feasibility of government control over economic growth. He advocates for a societal vision that emphasizes "air we can breathe... the space and time to let our minds wander and bodies rest, to be citizens, not just consumers."
Recalling a conversation with Labour's Harriet Harman, Lawson noted her observation that some activists felt discussions about growth were akin to discussing cancer. He expanded on this, labeling the "treadmill" of constant growth as a "cancer," alongside "climate chaos and enforced mass migration."
"Let's grow care and time, our relationships and compassion; let's grow trees and realistic hope because there is no economic growth on a dead planet," Lawson stated.
Lawson also criticized decisions such as the potential expansion of Heathrow's third runway, likening it to "Donald Trump's drill, baby, drill." He also warned against deregulation proposals, emphasizing that regulations are essential for a functioning economy, preventing monopolies and protecting individuals from harm.
Burnham himself has expressed a desire for a pro-growth agenda but has committed to diverging from what he terms the "trickle-down economics of the last 40 years."