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This Time No Mistakes
- How to Remake Britain
- Narrated by: Alastair Campbell, Will Hutton
- Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins
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Summary
Every thinking person knows that a great change is needed in our country.
Will Hutton’s passionate book shows how the right and left have gone wrong over the course of the last century – and how we can remake a better Britain. Britain’s inability to invest in itself is at the heart of our problems. The malevolent thread linking the grievous errors of the last forty-five years is the attempt to create the utopia of free markets and a minimal state. The terrible consequences scar our country today. We need an alternative economic and political philosophy, especially if we are to ward off a nihilist populism.
Two great traditions – ethical socialism and progressive liberalism – can be brought together to offer a different way forward. Hutton describes the views of their major thinkers, and their common vision of what he calls the ‘We Society’ – combining the ‘We’ and the ‘I’. The two strands of thought both believe in the duty to treat people fairly in a capitalist system that, without guiderails, spirals into inequality, monopoly and exploitation.
Out of this shared worldview came the great reforming Liberal government of 1906–14, supported by Labour MPs who’d been elected in industrial areas with Liberal backing. This alliance, Hutton argues, was the great opportunity of modern British history. It was destroyed by the First World War. In 1945 a Labour government, informed by great Liberal intellectuals like Keynes and Beveridge, showed once again what can be achieved when the two progressive strands fuse.
Since then, our deeply unfair electoral system has allowed Conservatives to dominate government and commit a long series of great, avoidable errors. The Labour Party, fatally divided between socialist purity and timid pragmatism, must rediscover the ingredients that made for the success of the great reforming governments of the twentieth century.
This failure to uphold the ‘We Society’ has betrayed Britain. Capitalism must be repurposed to work for the common good. And our degraded democracy, the necessary means for such change, must be reformed. Hutton’s proposals are inspiring and rooted in values held by the overwhelming majority of us. Above all, they are achievable.
Critic reviews
'Here is a magisterial account of the past, present and let’s hope, the future of progressive politics in Britain. With fluency and profound understanding, the depth of Will Hutton’s passionate commitment to a more egalitarian society shines through every page.' (Polly Toynbee)
'Will Hutton has done it again… at a time of crisis and change here is a compelling account of how we got here and what needs to be done to move on…brilliantly evoked context combined with a credible but exciting and coherent vision for the future. A must read for all those who seek to make sense of the UK’s plight…and who dare to hope.' (Steve Richards, author of The Prime Ministers)
'Passionately argued, full of facts and insight, Will Hutton brilliantly diagnoses the British Disease of the 2020s and offers a convincing cure. A must read for anyone who thinks the UK can be better and do better than the mess we are in.' (Gavin Esler, author of Britain Is Better Than This)
'This is Will Hutton’s best book since The State We’re In. Given the state we’re in, it is by far his most important.' (Andy Haldane)
What listeners say about This Time No Mistakes
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- Mr. C. Thomas
- 24-05-24
What Labour needs to do - and why
Hutton’s analysis of what has held back Britain’s economy for over a century is absolutely spot-on.
Every UK voter should read this before casting their ballot.
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- Y
- 17-06-24
Spectacular
Sets out an optimistic future. Explains why we are where we now are. As humans floating on a tiny rock in an infinite ocean we have to work together and figure out what on earth we should do.
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- David Holliman
- 21-05-24
Very comprehensive account with great recommendations going forward
It’s a great read but much less a great listen. Will is not a great reader. He tends to gabble, with the result that there are passages that are very difficult to understand
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- Kevin Viney
- 26-05-24
How To Remake Britain indeed, thanks Will
This is a wonderful summary of everything that has gone wrong with the UK more or less since the Second World War.
So many messages about our failed voting system - FPTP must now be replaced by PR 🙏- the Conservatives disastrous recent policies especially around Brexit and Austerity economics are effectively addressed and utterly condemned and the roots of all our problems lying with Thatcherism is explained and highlighted brilliantly.
A must read for 2024 and for anyone still daft enough to be thinking of voting Conservative this is why that is such a catastrophically bad idea.
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- jmf9
- 30-05-24
Essential reading pre (or post) 2024 election
Excellent argument of what has gone wrong and how to fix it. Whether you’re right or left this is essential reading. This time we really must get it right (or correct) as the alternatives are not thinkable.
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- EDDIE MILLER
- 15-07-24
Nicely told albeit a tad one sided in parts
A very welcome listen that raises not only interesting points as well as factually accurate information, this book delivers the key messaging well. Slightly too one sided in parts which is interesting as it's very well balanced in others. Slightly more idealistic in mantra with some points of view, with a fascinating insight into the machine of governance with the monetary aspects covered. With the likley re-election of Trump in November 2024 (if he is still alive by then) the book makes accurate observations of the challenges that governments and world leaders will have, whilst reminding the people that it starts with them. Very much enjoyed and will be looking forward to the next book.
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- H Newsam
- 25-04-24
The most Important book you will read in 2024
What has gone wrong with the UK and how can it be fixed? Will Hutton explore this in an amazing book. He talks about how the UK must because the WE society where personal needs and wants are also in the context of the team work of society. It is a rightful repudiation of much of what has been done in the last 30 years. The Thatcher experiment of limited state and low taxes has been proven to be fake. We could have had a sovereign wealth fund like Norway but blew it all on the experiment of the 80’s. A must read before the 2024 election.
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- Paul J. Jackson
- 08-05-24
Essential reading for 2024
Will Hutton lays bare the mess we're in, how we got here and how we get out of it. His manifesto is far-reaching but necessary. Politicians need to be courageous enough to follow it.
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- Lynne Armstrong
- 08-07-24
Blueprint for a decent socirty
Keynesian economics, proportional representation, the We society, what Keir Starmer's government needs to do.
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- Bill Atkinson
- 08-06-24
Disappointing
The author made it too party political and should have stuck to the mistakes that have been bad for us, things to keep and then focus on how to get from I to We. The ideas are there but I couldn’t see a plan for the masses. A bit like Blair’s time; it wasn’t a solid vision and values so when it came to challenges he tossed the coin!
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