Steve Hilton, the former director of strategy for David Cameron, has set his sights on California’s governor’s mansion with a plan that reads like a Brexit-era manifesto crossed with Silicon Valley disruption. In a BBC exclusive, Hilton promises to transform the Golden State by slashing regulations, cutting taxes, and rolling back the very policies that define California’s progressive identity.
For a man who helped architect the ‘Big Society’ in Britain, this pivot to the American West might seem jarring. But Hilton’s blueprint is unmistakably influenced by his time in No. 10: a focus on localism, family, and the power of technology to bypass bureaucracy. He speaks of ‘people power’ and ‘innovation’, but critics see a familiar pattern of deregulation that benefits the wealthy at the expense of workers.
His promises include wiping out zoning laws to build more housing, a move that could tackle California’s affordability crisis but risks displacing low-income communities. He also pledges to slash corporate taxes, arguing that a booming tech sector will lift all boats. Yet for construction workers, gig economy drivers, and service staff, the reality of cheaper labor costs and fewer protections looms large.
Hilton’s rhetoric echoes his UK roots: he rails against ‘the blob’ of government and special interests. But here, the union halls are wary. They remember the austerity years in Britain, the hollowing out of public services. They see a candidate who speaks of ‘freedom’ but whose platform could mean more zero-hours contracts and a weaker safety net.
The plan is audacious. It’s also a test of whether a British political strategist can repackage Thatcher-era ideas for the West Coast. For now, voters in California’s Central Valley, where the housing crisis and water shortages bite hardest, might listen. But the echoes of Hilton’s past in London’s corridors of power will haunt him. He must convince them that this ‘overhaul’ is for them, not just for the tech barons of Silicon Valley.
Whatever the outcome, Hilton’s bid is a reminder that the battles over the size of the state, the price of a home, and the dignity of work are global. And the people he seeks to lead will judge him not by his grand plans, but by what’s left in their pockets at the end of the month.
