"There has been a factional antagonism towards anyone who might wave a Palestinian flag in solidarity with Gaza or yearns to rejoin the European Union, as well as to those who worry a lot about climate change or display too much sympathy for asylum seekers. For much of the past six years under Keir Starmer, his advisers have been dismissive of such viewpoints, which they thought would alienate the older, whiter and more traditionally working-class voters widely regarded as vital to electoral success."
"Yet on Thursday, in the previously rock-solid Labour constituency of Gorton and Denton, the party finished in a disastrous third place. And a lot more of its former supporters voted for the victorious Green party than defected to the rightwing populists of Reform."
Labour strategists have systematically dismissed concerns from voters advocating for Palestinian solidarity, climate action, asylum rights, and EU rejoining, viewing these positions as electoral liabilities among older, whiter, working-class voters. This factional antagonism toward progressive causes has backfired significantly. In the previously secure Labour constituency of Gorton and Denton, the party finished third, with more former supporters voting Green than defecting to Reform. Local factors including a substantial Muslim population angered by Gaza policy and complications surrounding the Greater Manchester mayor's candidacy contributed to this collapse, suggesting Labour's strategy of taking progressive voters for granted has produced disastrous consequences.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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