Nasa has unveiled plans for a permanent moon base. The UK Space Agency is poised to secure a key role. This is a mission that promises to push the boundaries of human exploration. But for families in Newcastle and Nottingham, the announcement feels like it belongs to a different universe.
The government’s enthusiasm for the Artemis programme is understandable. It drives technological innovation and secures high-skilled jobs. The UK’s contribution is expected to be in the region of billions of pounds. But at a time when food bank use is at an all-time high and energy bills are forcing households to choose between heating and eating, one must ask: is this the right priority?
The price of bread has risen by 15% in the last year. The cost of a pint of milk has jumped by 20%. Wage stagnation means that for many, the real economy is not found on the moon but in the local supermarket. A permanent moon base is a wonder of engineering. But it is not a wonder that will fill the stomachs of children whose parents are relying on universal credit.
The UK Space Agency says the moon base will create thousands of jobs and inspire a generation. I have no doubt it will. But those jobs are likely to be concentrated in the South East, in areas that already have high employment and high wages. What about the North? What about the towns that lost their pits and their factories? The government talks of 'levelling up', but the moon base feels like a project for the few, not the many.
Unite the Union has already voiced concerns. The union's general secretary said: "We welcome investment in science. But the government must not forget the workers and families who are struggling right now. We need investment in our communities, in our public services, in our wages. A moon base does not pay the rent."
The truth is that the cost of living crisis is not a temporary blip. It is a structural failure of our economy. And while Nasa's announcement is a triumph for human ingenuity, it also serves as a sharp reminder of how far we have drifted from the fundamental purpose of government: the wellbeing of its people.
I am not suggesting we abandon space exploration. But I am suggesting we need a government that can walk and chew gum at the same time. A government that can celebrate a moon base while also investing in affordable housing, decent wages, and strong public services. A government that understands that the real test of its success is not the number of astronauts it trains, but the number of children who go to bed without hunger.
The moon base is a milestone. But let us not be so starry-eyed that we ignore the gritty reality of life on earth. For many, the most pressing question is not what we will discover on the moon, but how we will afford to put food on the table tonight.
