Bell offers a clear diagnosis of Britain’s economic malaise, with stagnating wages, widening inequality, and chronic underinvestment. He highlights that since the 2008 crash, real wages have flatlined, public services have deteriorated, all while productivity lags behind comparable nations. This creates a uniquely toxic mix of American-style inequality combined with European-style low growth.
Rejecting both utopianism and nostalgia, Bell argues for a ‘practical patriotism’ rooted in quick, meaningful reforms and sustained long-term investment. His proposals include abolishing the two-child benefit cap, reforming planning laws to boost housebuilding, shifting taxation from income to wealth, enhancing apprenticeships and employment rights, and strengthening transport and infrastructure outside London.
Bell’s core messages are that small, immediate changes can rebuild public trust and drive momentum, while steady investment paves the way for deeper structural reform. Ultimately, he offers hard-headed, believable hope that Britain can become a more ‘normal’ and prosperous nation.