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Should the Labour Party start representing white working class males.

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Original post by SinsNotTragedies
Oh gosh :rofl: - Nick Clegg is a good man. :emo:

But I think you're probably right - I've only ever known two people in my peer group who align with the Lib Dems, compared to the tens who back Labour. I do think the Lib Dems are starting to gain ground again though.


They need to rebrand really, the Lib Dem name has been tarnished by Clegg.
The Labour party, despite what the self-titled moderates of the party think, will get nowhere offering the same faux-leftist corporate capitalism that thrived under Blair.

They have basically got 2 choices, the easier way, bend to the current paradigm, ramp up the anti-poor, anti-immigrant, anti- women agenda propagated by UKIP and hoover up some of the vote but essentially achieve nothing.

The other, harder way, would be to develop a narrative closer to their socialist routes, a narrative that does not resort to blaming the poverty of the white working class on the poverty of other working class groups. The must offer a greater narrative than the piecemeal approach theybhave offered since 2010 and start to actually attack some of the ideas that have for too long been above reproach in British politics.

What do I think they'll do? The former obviously.
Original post by SinsNotTragedies
If that alienates their 'traditional base' then there is a problem with their 'traditional base'.

That being said, I hope Labour continues to decline - to make way for the Lib Dems to resurface. Good news about the defection.


So why is the problem with the traditional base? It is the job of parties to get people vote for them, not the job of the people to do what the parties want them to do. You can disagree with the party bases but the parties cannot really do anything without them

And who the **** are the Lib Dems, I remember reading about them in a history book, but didn't they go extinct last year? :wink:
Original post by JohnGreek
Corbyn's decision to force a three line whip could arguably be seen as offering an olive branch to the Labour-voting parts of the country that voted Leave... but I doubt that the party's going to lose its metropolitanism (is that a word?) anytime soon. Whether it should is a matter that calls as much for quantitative analysis (i.e. looking at what Labour stands to gain and lose in terms of constituencies and voters) as it does about normative issues.


This.

From a statistical standpoint its clear without doubt that the UK is a middle class nation and ergo it should appeal to middle class voters however the majority of the middle classes are voting Tory and so Labour must decide whether to defend (focus on its base) or attack.

It's worth saying that overall Ukip are an irelevance. It is highly sympomatic of the problem Labour have that the OP is focussing on a potential loss to the Kippers in Stoke at a time when the Tories are looking odds on to win Copeland (incumbents have only gained from the opposition 4 times since WW2). If Labour lose sight of the real battle (the hundred or so Tory marginals) then they will be utterly massacred.

Original post by DeHumanisation
BNP were doing well until 09/10. Once MI5 started infiltrating their ranks they were ****ed. Basically Griffin would have been PM if our media/political system wasnt completely owned the zionist military-industrial complex.


Griffin PM.

[video="youtube;YIlL0T2yTss"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIlL0T2yTss[/video]

Original post by SinsNotTragedies
Oh gosh :rofl: - Nick Clegg is a good man. :emo:

But I think you're probably right - I've only ever known two people in my peer group who align with the Lib Dems, compared to the tens who back Labour. I do think the Lib Dems are starting to gain ground again though.


You a social Democrat or Classical Liberal?
Original post by Willy Pete
They need to rebrand really, the Lib Dem name has been tarnished by Clegg.


His mistake with the tuition fees was blown out of proportion imo. He was quick to apologise and took the blame for it - even though the Tory government messed him about. Tbh, I agree with you there, they're struggling to market themselves atm - it could be the lack of a charismatic leader? :dontknow:

Original post by Jammy Duel
So why is the problem with the traditional base? It is the job of parties to get people vote for them, not the job of the people to do what the parties want them to do. You can disagree with the party bases but the parties cannot really do anything without them

And who the **** are the Lib Dems, I remember reading about them in a history book, but didn't they go extinct last year? :wink:


Yes I agree. But I was saying how if standing up for ethnic minorities and women is alienating their base there's something morally wrong with the people who would traditionally support labour, in that case. :dontknow: Why can't the party seek to represent all working class interests, without white men feeling left out?

Besides, I'm not really sure targeting the white working class male demographic would help labour - their traditional base is consigned to the past, is it the same as their potential modern day base, which they should appeal to?

Ah, they had experienced a slight impediment. Steadily gaining ground again. :tongue:

Original post by Rakas21


You a social Democrat or Classical Liberal?


I mostly subscribe to classical liberalism.
Keep corbyn in, no one should rightly vote for a dumb communist.
Original post by SinsNotTragedies
His mistake with the tuition fees was blown out of proportion imo. He was quick to apologise and took the blame for it - even though the Tory government messed him about. Tbh, I agree with you there, they're struggling to market themselves atm - it could be the lack of a charismatic leader? :dontknow:


It wasn't out of proportion, I paid 6k more than the year before me for the same education. Great he apologised, but that won't pay my 25k of debt.

I couldn't even name the current leader, they need to completely restart with a whole new strategy and seriously learn from their previous mistakes.
To his credit, that is what Corbyn is trying to do. He's not doing it very well, but that is what he's trying to represent the working class more.
Original post by RedManc
Traditionally, the Labour Party won its support from white working class males, as they worked in heavy industry. Unfortunately, since Blair, the Labour Party has been focusing on ethnic minorities and women, therefore alienating its traditional base. If Labour are to win, they need to represent their traditional base. UKIP is gaining territory, it is very likely that they'll win the Stoke by-election. The Labour Party must represent its traditional base before it is too late.


That is not true at all. Women did get the vote in 1918 you know! Labour has traditionally supported working people and since the influx of immigrants from the Commonwealth in the 60's and 70's, working ethnic minorities have also been staunch supporters of Labour.

All Blair did was move into the centre ground by appealing to the Middle classes. Whatever we think of Blair we must not forget that he won three decisive elections in a row.

One might conclude that Corbyn is going back to traditions and fair enough, but what is the point of a party that has no power or influence? If Labour want to become relevant again, due to the first past the post electoral system in this country, they must appeal to a wider electorate.
Reply 29
Original post by ByEeek
That is not true at all. Women did get the vote in 1918 you know! Labour has traditionally supported working people and since the influx of immigrants from the Commonwealth in the 60's and 70's, working ethnic minorities have also been staunch supporters of Labour.

All Blair did was move into the centre ground by appealing to the Middle classes. Whatever we think of Blair we must not forget that he won three decisive elections in a row.

One might conclude that Corbyn is going back to traditions and fair enough, but what is the point of a party that has no power or influence? If Labour want to become relevant again, due to the first past the post electoral system in this country, they must appeal to a wider electorate.


The thing is Labour is losing its working class vote. They think that the Labour party represents women and ethnic minorities interests only.
Original post by RedManc
The thing is Labour is losing its working class vote. They think that the Labour party represents women and ethnic minorities interests only.


Did you ask all of them? That seems more to be your opinion rather than that of Labour supporters. When did Corbyn appeal only to women and ethnic minorities? Examples?
Reply 31
Original post by ByEeek
Did you ask all of them? That seems more to be your opinion rather than that of Labour supporters. When did Corbyn appeal only to women and ethnic minorities? Examples?


You are out of touch. If you go to places like Sheffield, Leeds, Doncaster, Stoke, Newcastle, Manchester, Barnsley, Rotherham, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Sunderland, Liverpool, Preston and Middlesborough you will hear the anger and frustration towards the Labour Party. They feel that they are not being represented by the Labour Party. In these areas, majority of them voted leave, while the Labour MP's voted remain.
Original post by RedManc
You are out of touch. If you go to places like Sheffield, Leeds, Doncaster, Stoke, Newcastle, Manchester, Barnsley, Rotherham, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Sunderland, Liverpool, Preston and Middlesborough you will hear the anger and frustration towards the Labour Party. They feel that they are not being represented by the Labour Party. In these areas, majority of them voted leave, while the Labour MP's voted remain.


Again - not true. Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle all voted Remain. But in both parties, there are elements of remainer and leavers. Let us not forget that whilst a majority of those who voted said leave, only 4% fewer voted remain. Yet everyone on the leave side thinks that 48% of the electorate can simply be ignored. Is that democracy? Where you get your way and screw everyone else?

It is a fact that remain / leave bridges the parties. There are for and against supporters in both parties. The Tories are not the party of leave and Labour the party of remain.

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