Economist and former government adviser Professor Tim Jackson talks to Peeps Online

GROWTH, growth, growth – Sir Keir Starmer’s top priority.

But what does it actually mean? And is growth really making people’s lives better?

In the latest film on the Tribune’s YouTube politics channel, Peeps Online, we interviewed economist and former government adviser Professor Tim Jackson about who benefits from a booming economy and why “chasing the bling” means our leaders might be neglecting the things that really matter.

“Growth is a big shiny promise that politicians like to make, that they say will deliver a better society,” Professor Jackson said.

“Keir Starmer tells us that it’s his special new mantra, but it’s not – Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng talked about it, almost every other politician has trumpeted that idea.”

Governments measure growth in GDP – gross domestic product – a stock take of the “busyness” of an economy – how much is being produced, sold, bought and consumed, he explained.

“It’s supposed to be an indicator of how well-off we are but growth growth growth has mostly benefited the rich rich rich over the past 30 years, so even while real incomes have stagnated for ordinary working people, the incomes and wealth of the richest have increased,” he said.

He advocates for “prosperity without growth” instead, an idea that has become more mainstream in the past 15 years but is yet to be taken up by the people in power.

• See more Peeps Online films at www.youtube.co.uk/@peepsonline