For many decades you had Labour representing... well labour. And the Conservatives representing capital.

Progressive/liberal vs conservative/traditional was a secondary issue. The struggle was for economic power.

Now the working class has changed. Labour doesn't seem capable of representing their economic interests, and many of them are not very interested in the things that Labour has found to think about instead.

The Tories are, perhaps in the longer-term, facing a similar problem balancing the priorities of their economic liberals (powerful) and societal traditionalists (numerous).

Possibly we're seeing a realignment of politics along cultural rather than economic lines. In our electoral system, that would require a major realignment by both the traditional parties of power, or they'll go the way of the Whigs.

As with the Richmond by-election, I'm not sure there's much cause for concern in Labour not gaining Sleaford, or even losing some % of the vote, although the Corbyn/Labour critics will use it to stick the boot in.



It's certainly a risk. I think with the majority of policies and ideas Labour speak about, the majority of the populace would probably agree with them. They promoting fairness & equality. Unfortunately it's their ability to communicate said policies to the general population that they're failing to do effectively.

The bad PR and feeling around Corbyn (partly drummed up my the media, and partly by himself & some of the things he says that get picked up on) doesn't help either. He doesn't look or sound like a statesman. Whilst this shouldn't necessarily matter & people should be more concerned with what he actually says and judge him on his actions, unfortunately for a lot of the electorate it does matter.

The worst thing for the Labour party I believe was the terrible timing of the coup, straight after the Brexit vote. Corbyn won with a huge mandate in 2015, and there's no way those same voters would back a coup and oust the leader after just 9 months in charge. Plus, the polls at the time for Labour were reasonably good. If those MP's had kept their powder dry and carried out a coup further down the line, it might have worked.

Sadly for him the job of PM requires that you are a statesman and represent the country on the world stage. People are proud of this country and wouldn't want a rag bag like that representing them.

Blair, Obama, Cameron, even Sturgeon are smart, articulate and represent their respective countries on global front very well. How would Corbyn look turning up for a meeting with the Chinese, Japaneses, American... leaders. Even if he had something of value to say the message would be lost.

You just proved the point I was making really. He's smart & articulate (despite you alluding to him not being), yet the points you raise are superficial, they're commenting about Corbyn's appearance, rather than the substance in what he says and does.

I'm not having a go at you or anyone else for that, it does matter to some people, and it unfortunately matters to a large section of the electorate.



Just on the subject on "rag bags" representing our country - what are your thoughts on Boris as Foreign Secretary?

Not gaining Sleaford wont worry Labour or Corbyn but, their 28% rating in current opinion polls would worry any "main" opposition party that is not in power.
We've had 7 ? years of the Tories (albeit 5 years with the Libdems) and during this period we've had the toughest cut backs in the last 80+ years and still Labour are as popular as a fart in a space suit.
They need to wake up and smell the coffee, it's just not funny.

We had the failed coup among the parliamentary party and still Corbyn holds the reigns but, anyone can see that they are further away from winning the next election than ever.
Midn you, the Tories could implode over Europe but, Labour need to change direction or, at least improve their public perception.

You wanna think yourself lucky. Plenty of us had to endure a fooking witch followed by the grey man for eighteen long years.
We got our own special pr!ck after them.

Indeed and unless Labour get their act together, the Tories will get stronger and stronger in England, Wales & N.Ireland, which will give them carte banche to impose whatever they wish and despite May's promises to look after the poorer members in society, we ALL know how that one ends, more and more for the well off, probably some tax cuts as well and screw the rest.

The war was lost on a sunny day on a field at Orgreave a long time ago.
It wasn't for want of trying by many of us.

Too many Lemmings at Orgreave following king Arthur over the edge

Out thought by those nasty capitalists - now all Arthur argues about is whether he can keep his pad in the Barbican - and you wonder nobody takes socialists seriously!!

"The journey of the sun and moon is predictable. But yours, is your ultimate art."

Nice saving there for Arthur , cost the NUM a fair bit to rent that place for him for all those years too at £ 34 grand a year

The NUM should have contacted Shirley Porter and seen if she could have got him a nice pad in Westminster instead.

You gone a bit Sun Tzu there chief?

Just coz we adopted Brunette Coleman doesn't mean we aint entitled to a little diversification, innit guvnor?