Anti-growth coalition

The Financial Times wrote that "the absurdity of the term is matched by its hypocrisy," noting that "expanding economic output is a laudable goal, but the government’s plan to hit 2.5 per cent annual growth, which it relies on to bring debt under control, is dubious," and arguing that there were many "nimbies" who "block[ed] housing, renewable energy, and infrastructure projects," who were also Conservative members of parliament.^[1] Richard Partington for The Guardian argued that Truss' own plans for the economy were "more likely to be anti-growth than those of her critics."^[9] Adrian Woolridge of Bloomberg News wrote that "the Tory Party also increasingly rests on an anti-growth coalition," and that Conservative voters "routinely oppose the building of new houses that might spoil their views and new shops and stores that might clog their roads."^[10] Graham Lawson, writing for the New Scientist, stated that "there is an anti-growth coalition in the UK. It is led by the dinosaurs who think that conserving the environment and economic progress are mutually incompatible."^[11]

Several public figures sought to dissociate themselves with the term.^[12] Mick Lynch, head of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, stated that "the idea that I’m sitting around with other people saying, 'let’s form a coalition so we can stop economic growth in Britain', it’s just a nonsense. Everyone believes in economic growth, otherwise the economy doesn’t move forward. But what they mean by economic growth is the rich keep getting richer and working people continue to have their conditions diluted in the name of profit."^[13] Jamie Oliver, who has advocated against "buy one get one free" offers, rejected the term after the Government did not rule out that Truss' remarks about "two-for-one offers" also included him as part of the "coalition".^[14]

Commentators and comedians noted the large breadth of targets of the term. Mitch Benn in The New European noted that "as far as I can tell, the 'Anti-Growth Coalition' consists of pretty much everyone except Ms Truss herself, some - but by no means all - of her parliamentary party, and the somewhere between 20 and 25% of the electorate."^[15] Joe Lycett joked on Twitter that Kwarteng was "also part of the anti-growth coalition" following his dismissal as chancellor in October 2022.^[16] Graham Lawson noted that he identified with a large number of aspects included under the term by both Truss and Braverman, and called the term a "total dud" in terms of its efficacy as a three-word slogan.^[11]

The degrowth movement, which explicitly argues against economic growth and includes academics, environmental activists and some Labour Party members, was noted by the Financial Times as one of the "ironies" concerning the term.^[1][10] George Monbiot wrote in The Guardian that he himself was part of the "anti-growth coalition," that "for Truss and those around her, growth is an end in itself," and that this was "entirely divorced from utility."^[17] Rahlia Gupta of Byline Times also used the term to make the case for degrowth.^[12]

• Liberal elite
• Loony left