Reflecting on 80 Years of Change: What Can We Learn from the Post-War Vision for Today’s Britain?

Part 1: From Hope to Hardship — The UK 80 Years After Victory in Europe

On May 8, 1945, Britain erupted into celebration.

The war in Europe was over.

Nazi Germany had surrendered.

Crowds packed Trafalgar Square, Glasgow Green, and city centres across the country, cheering, singing, and embracing.

But their joy was about more than just the defeat of fascism. It was about survival — and about hope – hope that, after the horror, something better could be built.

Hope that the sacrifices made would lead to a fairer, kinder, more secure Britain.

A nation in crisis — that chose to be bold

It’s easy to forget how dire the UK’s situation was in 1945.

• Debt was more than 250 per cent of GDP.

• Cities lay in ruins, blitzed and bombed.

• The economy was shattered.

• Rationing gripped daily life.

• A once-mighty empire was fading.

Technically, Britain wasn’t “bankrupt” — a country that issues its own currency can’t truly run out of money.

But it was as close to collapse as it had ever been.

And yet, in that moment, the newly elected Labour government under Clement Attlee chose to rock the boat.

• They didn’t settle for patching up the old system.
• They didn’t tell the public “this is all we can afford.”
• They didn’t shy away from the big fights.

Instead, they launched some of the boldest social reforms in British history:

• The National Health Service, offering healthcare free at the point of use.
• A modern welfare state, inspired by the Beveridge Report, to tackle poverty, disease, ignorance, squalor, and unemployment.
• A massive public housing drive, providing homes fit for the heroes who had fought and sacrificed.
• Economic reconstruction centred on full employment and social solidarity.

They risked political capital.

They made powerful enemies.

But they believed the country could be better — and they acted.

And – for a while – the country did get better.

2025: A richer nation, a poorer society?

80 years on, Britain is far wealthier. We have advanced technologies, a huge service economy, greater productivity, and incomparably higher living standards.

But look around. What do you see?

• An NHS in deep crisis, starved of resources, with privatisation creeping in.

• A welfare system that often punishes, humiliates, or excludes, leaving millions dependent on food banks.

• A housing market that locks out young people, families, and low earners, fuelling homelessness and insecurity.

• A workforce of exhausted, underpaid people, many juggling multiple jobs just to stay afloat.

• A political class that seems paralysed — afraid to disrupt, afraid to dream, afraid to rock the boat.

Ironically, today’s Labour government under Keir Starmer seems defined less by ambition than by caution.

Its overriding message is one of stability, moderation, and managerialism — a refusal to take the political risks needed to address systemic crises.

But as the film A Bridge Too Far (yes, a World War II movie) reminds us, sometimes not rocking the boat leads to disaster.

Problems don’t fix themselves.

Faulty systems collapse if left unchallenged.

Sometimes the only responsible course is bold, decisive action, no matter the political cost.

We want to hear from you: 80 years after VE Day, what’s changed?

As part of this new series “80 Years After VE Day: What Went Wrong?”, we are inviting you, our readers, to join the conversation.

We want to collect voices, memories, and reflections from people across the UK:

Do you remember VE Day or the post-war years?

Were you there in 1945, or do you have vivid memories of what life was like in the years that followed?

Did your parents or grandparents tell you about it?

What did they say about the mood of the country, the struggles, the rebuilding, and the hopes they carried?

What do you think has changed?

When you look at the UK today — at the NHS, housing, wages, politics, and the welfare state — how do you think we compare to the ambitions of 1945?

Do you think we’ve lost our courage as a nation?

Why, in your view, do we now seem unable to tackle the problems facing ordinary people, despite being far richer as a country?

What gives you hope today — or what needs to change?

Share your thoughts on what kind of country you want us to be as we look to the future.

How to send your story

📧 Email us at [email protected]

💬 Comment below on this article or on our social media posts

Why your voice matters

The rebuilding of post-war Britain wasn’t just done by politicians — it was done by ordinary people, communities, families, workers, neighbours.

We want this series to reflect your voices, not just the headlines.

So, whether you’re old enough to remember, or you’ve inherited stories and insights from those who were there, we invite you to be part of this national conversation.

80 years ago, Britain dared to dream big. What should we dare to dream today?

We look forward to hearing from you.