I had the opportunity once more this year to attend Labour Party conference. Coming home, I was struck by the real sense of optimism, vision and hope that came out of it, with an inspirational leader’s speech.
Support for political parties under our electoral system is always about holding a coalition of voters together. And with last Thursday’s by-election victory in Holborn and St Pancras, it is clear that Andy Burnham is successfully reviving Labour’s electoral fortunes. No mean achievement considering how polling in the last few years has been such a rollercoaster ride.
Together with Burnham’s return to Parliament with his increased vote share in Makerfield, it shows once more that Labour can hold the whole coalition together, and the Prime Minister has demonstrated he can do this.
A new start will refocus on delivery and change – not just more of the same. Communication will be key.
The previous approach of antagonising the leftwards edge of the Labour coalition has been more than tested to destruction, and failed to convince the rightwards one. Neither ended up satisfied. I am pleased and relieved we appear to have moved on from this.
The Prime Minister has now articulated a vision and leadership for our country that we can all get behind, one that can be understood and will resonate both here in marginal constituencies like Crawley, as well as heartlands and the ‘red wall’.
It is based on a compelling message. That the Government can turn around a challenging fiscal environment and stick with us through tough times, while also addressing the root causes of the problems we face as a country in a constantly changing world.
And Labour’s bounce in polls, 7 points or higher than before, is even more significant in a political landscape that has become so fragmented. It has become clear to me through local feedback that Burnham is winning over tactical voters significantly, Reform and Green support is on the slide.
The Right is unstable at present. Reform is riven by scandal, the Tories still have no vision or plan for our country. The Tories left standing don’t want to vote Reform, and won’t for the most part.
This isn’t surprising, there is a significant share of voters who oppose Reform and will vote for whoever is best placed to beat them. In Crawley’s local elections this year, that was clearly still Labour and people should remember that in our crusade for decency in Crawley.
We know there is low public trust in politics to deliver better outcomes. We urgently need to fix that broken element – this will be the antidote to Reform and their empty promises.
The message must stay clear – don’t let your anger eclipse the many things that are in your interest, like the NHS, help on the cost of livjng, properly funded public services, workers’ rights, investment in new council and affordable housing, the list goes on. And our work goes on to achieve it.
Cllr Michael Jones
Leader, Crawley Borough Council