A Labour MP is captivating the nation with a surprisingly relatable explanation of Britain’s financial woes – all thanks to a humble biscuit.
Gordon McKee, representing Glasgow South, has amassed over 3.3 million views on TikTok by using custard creams and chocolate bourbons to illustrate the country’s spiraling debt. In a political landscape often shrouded in complex jargon, McKee’s approach is a breath of fresh air.
He constructed towers of biscuits, using custard creams to represent Gross Domestic Product, topped with a miniature Union Jack. Alongside, rising stacks of chocolate bourbons symbolized the nation’s growing debt, visually demonstrating the stark reality of the current economic situation.
McKee traced the debt-to-GDP ratio back to 1994, showing how it doubled after the 2008 financial crisis. He then illustrated the dramatic surge to 100% following the Covid pandemic, famously referencing “some guy eats a bat in Wuhan” as the catalyst for the global upheaval.
The visual comparison didn’t stop there. McKee used even taller bourbon towers to represent the debt-to-GDP ratios of other G7 nations, highlighting that despite similar levels of debt, the UK pays significantly more interest. He described Britain’s spending habits as akin to maxing out a credit card on frivolous purchases – “a dog, a new car and a hair transplant.”
McKee didn’t just diagnose the problem; he offered a potential solution. In a follow-up clip, he outlined his plan to stabilize the nation’s finances: taxing wealth, focusing on property rather than assets, and stimulating economic growth.
He isn’t alone in this innovative approach. Fellow Labour MP Richard Burgon recently used a mountain of 200 packs of fusilli pasta to powerfully illustrate the sheer scale of billionaire wealth compared to the average UK salary, a video viewed over 650,000 times.
These creative videos signal a broader shift within the Labour party, a determined effort to connect with voters in a new and engaging way, learning from the success of online communicators across the political spectrum.
The party recognizes the need to cut through the noise and present its vision for the future in a manner that resonates with a wider audience, moving beyond traditional political rhetoric.
