Here’s a suggestion for how Keir Starmer can make the most of this final weekend of the summer recess before politics fully resumes on Monday. He should find his favorite spot on the sofa and immerse himself in a thought-provoking TV masterpiece that is incredibly relevant – a production that depicts the demise of a Tory government and the birth of a new, Labour one.
This series brilliantly highlights the array of challenges that would await Starmer if he were to become Prime Minister – housing, policing, poverty, crime, inequality – and grapples with the perpetual dilemma of the left: should change be pursued through radicalism, which is inspiring and impatient, or through pragmatism, which is cautious and gradual? All of this is covered in nine captivating episodes.
Despite its timeliness, this series is not new. It cannot be found by searching documentary or current affairs categories, yet it sheds more light on British politics and recent history than most TV programs do. It is a drama that originally aired almost three decades ago, but its impact and relevance have only grown stronger since then.
I am referring to Our Friends in the North by Peter Flannery, which premiered on BBC Two in 1996. I recently rewatched it and was captivated once again. This epic tale spans three decades, following the lives of four characters raised in Tyneside – Nicky, Mary, Geordie, and Tosker, portrayed brilliantly by Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee, Daniel Craig, and Mark Strong – from their early adulthood in 1964 to their middle age in 1995. We witness their lives, their loves, their mistakes, heartbreaks, and disappointments as they try to shape and are shaped by the events of their time.
The fifth character in this series is the Labour Party, which governs Newcastle and influences where the four characters live and how their stories unfold, often pitting family members against each other. At different moments, two of the characters seek or obtain political office as members of the Labour Party.
One of the reasons this show has endured is that the characters are not mere political archetypes; they are complex, flawed individuals who exist in three dimensions. Furthermore, the series delves into timeless human themes, particularly the destructive legacies passed down from one generation to the next, especially when a father-son relationship goes awry. This story feels as relevant today as ever.
Another reason why Our Friends in the North remains timeless is its commentary on societal issues. It weaves riveting drama around municipal housing policy, drawing on the real-life scandal involving the former leader of Newcastle city council, T Dan Smith, and architect John Poulson. A charismatic local Labour leader promises to demolish slums and replace them with high-rise buildings that ultimately prove uninhabitable. This storyline serves as a reminder of how a single political decision can devastate lives, bringing to mind crumbling schools made of concrete or the tragic Grenfell incident in 2017. Writer Peter Flannery expressed, “That was a terrible night, watching that and thinking, ‘Christ, nothing changes.'”
There are several other moments throughout the series where it not only provides insight but also foresight. For instance, it anticipates the sub-prime crisis of 2008 by depicting an entrepreneur who lends money to aspiring homeowners unable to afford mortgages. The series also features a premonition of the infamous “bigoted woman” incident that marred Gordon Brown’s 2010 campaign, depicting a Labour campaigner confronting a voter who complains about unwanted neighbors.
The series tackles various issues that are frequently discussed today, such as dementia, mental illness, and inherited trauma, even though they were relatively unexplored at the time. And woven throughout is the perennial dilemma faced by the Labour Party: should they take bold risks and potentially face defeat, or should they proceed cautiously and risk failure? “It is perennial,” Flannery affirms. “It’s certainly repetitive.”
Now 71 years old, Flannery has witnessed this cycle three times. He recalls the time when Harold Wilson assumed leadership of the Labour Party, coinciding with the decline of yet another Conservative government. However, Labour chose caution and waited. “They always seem to be waiting for the Tories to mess it up; they never seem to be on the offensive,” he remarks.
He had the same realization in 1996, when the show first aired during John Major’s waning days in office. Hearing rumors that Tony and Cherie Blair were watching the series, Flannery wrote to Blair, urging him to seize the opportunity of an impending landslide victory and embrace bolder actions. (Flannery doesn’t know if his letter reached Blair, as he never received a response.) He now perceives a similar pattern unfolding with the current Labour leadership, marked by hesitancy. This week, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled out a wealth tax.
Flannery understands Labour’s trepidation, acknowledging the weight of past defeats. However, he argues that such caution makes little sense when the Conservatives are weak, as they are at present. If Flannery is correct, we are currently in one of those rare periods – occurring perhaps once every 30 years – when Labour is on the cusp of power and can afford to be bold.
Alternatively, one may propose a middle ground, as suggested in a new essay by two seasoned Labour policy experts. They argue that a Labour government must move swiftly while conveying a message of patience. Our Friends in the North does not provide a definitive answer; it is a captivating human drama, not a policy manifesto. The series will only be available on BBC iPlayer for a couple more weeks. Keir Starmer should make a point to watch it before it disappears and consider that this time, the larger political story it tells – one of Labour’s hopes and disappointments – might just follow a different script.
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