It seems that everywhere we look; we see the impact of technology, machines and the rapid change happening in communities, schools and homes. This week, TechUK – the trade association for the technology industry – released its digital manifesto for the next five years and how the UK can maximise the digital opportunity in order to tackle pressing social challenges. In a recent article, Stella Creasy suggested that Labour should not fear change and seek to build one nation where the benefits of change are shared by many and not the few. As technology permeates everything, I argue that Labour must be at the forefront of this second machine age. By placing these issues at the heart of the party’s messaging and programme in the coming years, we can guide the process of change for the benefit of all.
Recent controversy around Uber taxis are just a precursor of things to come. Since the days of the Luddites, technological change has been charged as the enemy of labour in the swirl of productivity advance. A paper by Oxford academics Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne predict significant job losses within many service sectors as a result of technological changes. While such pessimism surrounding job losses is unlikely to fully manifest itself both in the United States and here at home, there will likely be a restructuring of labour markets where the market will place a premium on the creative and human touches that only people can bring.
In a recent paper, David Autor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology predicted that new positions will be available where there will be ‘a premium on inductive reasoning, communications ability, and expert mastery.’ By placing these arguments at the forefront of the political debate and showing that the party understands the way the world is going, electoral dividends are likely to follow.
It is encouraging that Labour Digital alongside Chuka Umunna’s Agenda 2030 plan has provided a roadmap for the digital future. Bold and ambitious, this agenda seeks a high-productivity, high-skilled and innovation-led economy. The Treasury recently reported on the jobs of the future and the potential disruption for workers given these rapid changes to how we live and work. As we consider the wonderment at the blistering pace of innovation, change and opportunities for high skilled workers – an important question remains – what about those without such skill?
Without addressing this fundamental question – and without admitting that technological change in the short run can create many losers – we cede more political ground to extremist and traditionalist parties such as the United Kingdom Independence party that wish to return Britain to a bygone way of life. A traditionalist retreat would be both impoverishing and self-defeating. While always seeking to protect the poorest and most vulnerable, it is vital that voices seeking to rewind the passage of time are both confronted and defeated.
The TechUK call for a digital inclusion programme to ensure that everyone has basic online skills by 2020 is a laudable goal, and will help those left behind. Change works best when it lifts those who are down on their luck and spreads opportunity as widely as possible. As Theo Blackwell has stated, technology is becoming ever more central to our lives and it is essential that we become more explicitly political about who controls technology and its central purpose to enhance social welfare.
Accordingly, the challenge for Labour is to both embrace the change and help those adversely affected by such change, without retreating into protectionism or a rejection of the future. This politics for the Facebook generation is the most difficult task of all; the nuance of such arguments away from a binary position appears risky and could leave Labour open to criticism. Regardless of the risks, technology is the great engine of social progress, and it is the duty of Labour to steer the course for the benefit of all.
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Oliver MacArthur works for the investment team at a charitable endowment. He tweets @olliemacarthur
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