What should the new government do? What might a new agenda look like? What if we were to start without party manifestos and vested interest? What might "better" look like?
Rosie Boycott was joined by Channel 4’s head of news and author of Trust Me, I’m Not a Politician: A Simple Guide to Saving Democracy, Dorothy Byrne; by the political commentator, formerly Boris Johnson’s mayoral spin doctor, Guto Harri; by the Guardian journalist and author of Brit(ish) Afua Hirsch, and by Vicky Pryce, the economist and author of Women vs Capitalism: We Can’t Have it All in a Free-Market Economy at Hay Festival Winter Weekend to discuss the state of UK politics and what's ahead.
"I’ve been involved in TV programming for over 40 years and have never heard so much laughter in political debate as in this election," began Byrne, referring to the recent Question Time leaders' debate special. "Evidence is not being listened to in this election," added Pryce.
Hirsch placed the political moment in an even wider historical context, stating: "What we are experiencing is a mix of substandard political discourse and a fragility in our national identity, in Britishness. We have lost confidence as a consequence of our place in history."
She added: "Our place in the world changed dramatically over the 20th century without a public discourse to deal with that... You get the politicians you deserve. We've not created the environment to nurture inspiring leaders."
Explore the full Hay Festival Winter Weekend programme here.