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Has the pandemic made British people more left wing? Answer: No.
(See here for the UCL team presenting their research on this https://ucl-political-science.simplecast.com/episodes/policy-and-practice-public-attitudes-to-the-state-post-covid-19?mc_cid=ce634f0915&mc_eid=5b5b5ff409)
Some thoughts on the implications for Labour 1/
(See here for the UCL team presenting their research on this https://ucl-political-science.simplecast.com/episodes/policy-and-practice-public-attitudes-to-the-state-post-covid-19?mc_cid=ce634f0915&mc_eid=5b5b5ff409)
Some thoughts on the implications for Labour 1/
The British public are *already* pretty left-wing, more people agree the government should redistribute income to the less well-off than disagree.
But then this is the same electorate that voted for the Tories in much greater numbers than they voted Labour in 2019. 2/
But then this is the same electorate that voted for the Tories in much greater numbers than they voted Labour in 2019. 2/
So the pandemic hasn't suddenly given Labour the scope to embrace radical new policies and be sure of public support, hence no radical new policies...
This is a good summary of Anneliese Dodds' speech last week from @iandunt 3/ https://www.politics.co.uk/comment/2021/01/21/under-the-radar-labours-progressive-economic-agenda/
This is a good summary of Anneliese Dodds' speech last week from @iandunt 3/ https://www.politics.co.uk/comment/2021/01/21/under-the-radar-labours-progressive-economic-agenda/
But given the Tories ALSO say they've ended austerity and want to make huge investments in the environment etc, I'm left still questioning how fundamentally different the economy would look under a Lab government to the way this Tory government SAYS it will look under them. 4/
To me the key point, is that there's a difference between what the Tories SAY they intend to do and what I think they WILL do.
Yes, they'll spend money, but it's pork barrel money, determined by political expediency rather than need, eg the Towns Fund: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-pork-barrel-politics-of-the-towns-fund/
Yes, they'll spend money, but it's pork barrel money, determined by political expediency rather than need, eg the Towns Fund: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-pork-barrel-politics-of-the-towns-fund/
Or look at the recipients of the vast sums of money they've spend on Covid. @lukecooper100 is good here on the cronyism that's taken place. 6/ https://fabians.org.uk/the-mask-that-slipped/
Tory MPs are much more right-wing that their voters. See below (again!) one of my favourite charts from @UKandEU.
When they say they want to invest in public services/"level up", they're saying what the voters want to hear, not necessarily what they believe. 7/
When they say they want to invest in public services/"level up", they're saying what the voters want to hear, not necessarily what they believe. 7/
And I think that exploiting that disconnect is where Labour needs to get better.
Tories talking about spending huge amounts of money "levelling up" should become the equivalent of the Ed Miliband "Control Immigration" mug... 8/
Tories talking about spending huge amounts of money "levelling up" should become the equivalent of the Ed Miliband "Control Immigration" mug... 8/
Something that simultaneously upsets the base, but doesn't actually convince any swing voters.
So ironic that Rishi Sunak is popular only because he's spent lots of money, yet ideologically that's the *last* thing he wants to do. (Hence all the rows over FSM, UC etc). 9/
So ironic that Rishi Sunak is popular only because he's spent lots of money, yet ideologically that's the *last* thing he wants to do. (Hence all the rows over FSM, UC etc). 9/
Yes, Labour is right to attack the Tories over competence, but we also need to be going for them on hypocrisy and their own lack of belief in the agenda that they've promised. Then voters will be clearer about the difference between a Tory and a future Labour government. 10/
