I think they are all fair and reasonable points, and I also feel that can easily co-exist with some socialist policies that are generally popular with the public. What concerns me (and I guess I am also soul-searching politically too) is that your suggestions only seem to go in hand with an ambivalence to austerity and a general ignorance of those in society that are most vulnerable... it has certainly seemed that way in the past. Maybe things can change - something definitely needs to.
I would also add to your list some radical action on housing needs to be part of the plan as well as an effective policy on environmental and green matters.
Blue Labour does reject the Blairist assumptions of the free market. Combining a generally more ‘left wing’ economic platform with conservative social policies. Which frankly, seems to be the basis of a populist ticket.
Broadly speaking, I’m a fan of nationalising some things (Royal Mail, railroads), but also generally accept the assumptions of competition in the marketplace and capitalism being the better than the state for driving people out of poverty.
Essentially, it’s Labour’s answer to ‘One Nation Toryism’.
These are all good points, I guess I'm just close to thinking that no matter what they did, they wouldn't win because of the electoral maths or the Tory machine churning out some soundbites, holding up some pints and picking up another majority. Just a Scandinavian born in the wrong country haha
One of issues with the last Labour manifestos is the detail. Yes, this sound counterintuitive. But, if you’re in a position where you need to explain and justify the policies, you’re opening yourself up to criticism.
For Labour, shiny policies of ‘this, that and the other’ and ‘x, y & z’ whilst having an incoherent, confusing policy (for the average voter) on Brexit was a recipe for disaster.
Upon becoming leader of the Labour Party, Corbyn could’ve done with reading Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’ and ‘The New Machiavelli’ by Blair’s Chief of Staff.
I think you’re in the weeds of detail too much. Majority of swing voters go with the mood of the country rather than a detailed policy analysis and stuff like devolution means nothing outside of the politically engaged who have made their mind up already.
There’s two routes to power in the U.K.: you marry the liberal student cities with the socially conservative working class over a left wing economic program both support. That means patriotism, tough on crime and benefits cheats, immigration controls, plus investment in services and infrastructure.
Or you go right wing economics, low tax, low regulation, and try and get the Lib Dem and soft Tory vote.
What you can’t do is the Corbyn tactic of left wing liberalism of the students and woke middle class because they’re all concentrated in the same place.
Social attitude studies show consistently the U.K. is a left wing socially conservative country. IMO that’s the Labour route to power. Marry some element of Corbynite economics and investment with a focus on jobs and training, with a tabloid style social conservatism. That was Blair’s route and it doesn’t mean you can’t do liberal things like improving conditions for minorities, but you need the political capital from the country by draping yourself in the flag and hating the same things they do.
As a Labour member for the economics first and the social stuff second that’s fine by me but you’ll lose a lot of young idealistic activists which some would have an issue with. Personally I think the ground war is less and less important these days.
You’ve broadly summed up what I wanted to say in a high level manner. BSB asked what I wanted
The ‘Ground War’ - takes me back to my elections module at Uni. For me, social media is a new and key battleground for ‘the ground war’. The traditional ground war, I agree, is generally becoming less important.
I agree with you on Corbyn. Ironically, the rise of ‘wokeness’ has impacted traditional left wing parties the most. Judging from the UK and USA, this help drive a wedge between traditional and predominantly white working class voters have deserted their traditional ‘homes’.
It’s difficult for Starmer, I feel like he needs to simultaneously do the following things: win back his social conservative base, keep the new metropolitan students in uni towns, convince the electorate he’s not going to bankrupt the economy, whilst not coming off as a soft Tory. Convince voters he’s tough on antisemitism and racism in his own party.
It’s a tough gig, and despite a promising start, I cannot envisage a Labour victory at the next election at this moment. At least, it’s early in the parliament.