The political left in Western democracies once prided itself on being the voice of the working class. Social democratic parties, particularly in the UK, Australia, and the United States, championed policies that provided economic support to workers, raised living standards, and introduced welfare programs. However, in recent decades, a growing number of voters, particularly from the working class, have expressed disillusionment with these parties, claiming that they have been co-opted by global elites. The scandal involving UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, now Prime Minister, is emblematic of this betrayal, illustrating a broader phenomenon where the Western left no longer represents the common voter. Instead, it has morphed into a political machine serving elite interests, leaving the working class disenchanted and alienated.

Keir Starmer’s tenure as UK Prime Minister has been clouded by scandal, most notably the revelation that he and his family accepted tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of luxury gifts, including designer clothing and free stays in a billionaire’s luxury apartment. While political corruption is hardly new, particularly in democratic systems, the nature of Starmer’s alleged greed points to a much larger problem.

Comparisons with past Labour leaders such as Jeremy Corbyn or Harold Wilson show how far the party has shifted from its roots. Corbyn, a staunch advocate for the working class, was known for his frugal lifestyle and unwavering commitment to social equality. Imagining him accepting expensive gifts from billionaires is unthinkable. This stark contrast between past and present leadership highlights the modern Labour Party’s deep entanglement with elite interests.

Starmer’s scandalous behavior is not an isolated case but indicative of a broader phenomenon affecting social democratic parties across the West. These parties, which once championed the cause of the working class, have increasingly aligned themselves with global elites, abandoning the very people they were supposed to represent. In doing so, they have created a political vacuum, one that has been filled by right-wing populist movements that claim to fight for the “forgotten” workers.

The political transformation of Western leftist parties is rooted in the rise of global elites and the economic changes brought about since the 1980s. Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan spearheaded this shift, dismantling the post-World War II social democratic consensus that had long provided political stability and economic benefits to the working class. In the UK, Australia, and the United States, Labour and Democratic parties supported policies that lifted living standards and expanded welfare benefits. By the 1980s, however, this progressive consensus began to erode.

Thatcher and Reagan championed neoliberal economic policies, favoring deregulation, privatization, and tax cuts for the wealthy. These policies decimated the traditional working class, leaving millions of workers economically displaced and culturally marginalized. The rise of globalization only deepened these trends, creating a new world order that prioritized the interests of global elites over national concerns.

The Labour Party, the Democratic Party in the United States, and Australia’s Labor Party eventually embraced this new order. The modern left has become beholden to corporate and financial interests, eschewing genuine economic reform in favor of elite-approved policies such as identity politics and climate initiatives that disproportionately benefit corporations. Tax cuts for the wealthy, subsidies for renewable energy companies, and massive immigration that depresses wages are just a few examples of how these parties now serve the global elite.

While leaders like Starmer maintain the pretense of advocating for the working class, their actions tell a different story. They are more concerned with protecting elite wealth and status than addressing the real economic issues faced by ordinary citizens. Starmer’s acceptance of luxury gifts from billionaire businessmen is symptomatic of this betrayal.

What is perhaps most egregious about this political transformation is the rank hypocrisy displayed by modern social democratic leaders. Figures like Starmer, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and US leaders such as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris outwardly claim to support working-class interests, yet they indulge in the same privileges and excesses as the global elites they serve.

Albanese, for instance, has been criticized for his cozy relationship with corporate donors, accepting free tickets to football matches and concerts. While these perks may seem trivial compared to Starmer’s lavish gifts, they point to a disturbing trend: the left-wing leadership’s desire to mirror the lifestyles of their wealthy benefactors, even when they cannot afford to do so. This desire for luxury, combined with their adherence to elite ideologies like identity politics, has alienated the working class, leaving them feeling disenfranchised and unheard.

This hypocrisy is not limited to personal extravagance. The policies promoted by modern leftist leaders further exacerbate working-class suffering. In the UK, for example, the cost-of-living crisis has reached catastrophic levels. Ordinary workers can no longer afford basic necessities like rent, food, or energy bills, let alone aspire to own a home. Yet instead of addressing these pressing issues, the Labour Party under Starmer has focused on issues like transgender rights, climate change, and race relations-topics that, while important, do not resonate with the immediate concerns of the working class.

In America, the situation is equally dire. The Democratic Party’s embrace of identity politics and corporate interests has led to the rise of right-wing populism, embodied by Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. Trump’s populism may be deeply flawed, but it speaks to the grievances of workers who feel abandoned by the political establishment. Meanwhile, the Biden administration continues to pursue policies that favor the wealthy, further widening the gap between the elites and ordinary citizens.

The political realignment of social democratic parties in the West has had devastating consequences for both the working class and society as a whole. By prioritizing the interests of global elites, these parties have created deeply unstable political environments characterized by increasing polarization, economic inequality, and social unrest.

In the UK, race riots and anti-immigration protests have become increasingly common as workers express their frustration with a political system that no longer represents them. Australia has yet to experience the full force of this political instability, but it is only a matter of time before similar tensions erupt. In the United States, Trumpian populism has fractured the political landscape, leading to unprecedented levels of divisiveness and racial tension.

The root cause of this instability is the refusal of global elites-and the political leaders who serve them-to make meaningful economic reforms. Instead of addressing the economic displacement of the working class, they have doubled down on policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of ordinary citizens. The result is a society in which the working class feels not only ignored but actively despised. Hillary Clinton’s infamous description of Trump supporters as “deplorables” epitomizes the contempt that the global elites hold for the working class.

Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party exemplifies the crisis facing social democratic parties in the West. Despite revelations of his personal greed and hypocrisy, the Labour Party leadership continues to support him. After all, Starmer is not the only Labour politician to benefit from the largesse of billionaire benefactors. Figures like Angela Rayner have also admitted to accepting gifts from the same wealthy donors.

The billionaire in question, Baron Waheed Ali, a Labour peer and media tycoon, is emblematic of the cozy relationship between the political elite and global business interests. Ali’s generosity towards Starmer and other Labour politicians raises serious questions about the integrity of the party and its commitment to representing ordinary voters.

As left-wing Labour MP Rosie Duffield pointed out in her resignation letter, Starmer’s greed and hypocrisy have tarnished the Labour Party’s once-proud legacy. The party that once stood for the many now serves the few, prioritizing the interests of global elites over the needs of ordinary citizens.

The betrayal of the working class by Western leftists, exemplified by figures like Keir Starmer, has led to a profound political crisis. Social democratic parties, once the champions of workers’ rights and economic justice, have become tools of the global elites. Their embrace of identity politics, neoliberal economics, and corporate largesse has alienated the very people they were supposed to represent. As long as this betrayal continues, the working class will continue to drift towards right-wing populist movements that promise to reverse their economic and cultural displacement. Starmer and his ilk may remain in power for now, but their days are numbered as the working class seeks a new political home.