The Modern Labour Party

[SeanMacGabhann]

Djkq

Just conversation with people. People who would have gone either way in the past. I think opinion polls are at best irrelevant and short termist (even when I agree with them) and dangerous and misleading at worst

As the days go by it will be easier and easier to find more people angry with the government. Less easy to find people backing a recently deposed party regardless of leader and tactics. An important difference. And I think true regardless of which party was in which position when all this went down

Miliband could promise (and even have the ability to deliver!) the earth at the moment. Wouldn't make a jot of difference. Labour are electoral poison for a while. But that will change

[HAL9000]

Another 100 bites the dust!

[Mick Mac]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Djkq

>

. Labour are electoral

> poison for a while. But that will change

I don't think that will change for some time Sean. Labour vacated the populist middle ground and lost the people. It will get worse for them before it gets better, imho.

[DJKillaQueen]

Labour vacated the populist middle ground and lost the people.

This I agree with. The party that occupies this ground is usually the party that wins elections. But I also wouldn't say that the Coalition are sitting there either at the moment...so plenty of opportunity for Labour if they take it. I take Sean's point about 'electoral poison' and that Labour may need to be patient and ride out current unpopularity. However, they didn't 'lose' the election...it was hung and that's not the same as losing to a majority. Things aren't as bleak as some would care to suggest.

People who would have gone either way in the past.

On this, I know lots of people who have gone back to Labour because of what the Coalition are doing so I don't buy the suggestion that people are generally happy with the coalition based on conversations any individual may have with a few people they know. I think the coalition has polarised some of the floating electorate and perhaps sent traditional supporters back to either the conservatives or Labour. We also have yet to see the effects on jobs of the coming cuts and tax rises, which haven't come into effect yet. People ARE going to lose their jobs. The rise in VAT in the new year will be the first of those measures.

[StraferJack]

So, since the phone hacking scandals (and hey, it's back, back BACK today) and with yesterday's speeches from both leaders have people changed there opinion at all?

[Ridgley]

It is a little early to say Ed is still finding his feet, but I have to give him respect for how he was handling the riot issues and his MPs were out in there constituents talking to people in the communities while this was all happening. In regards to his speech I thought it was spot for me personally but we will have to see how it all goes till 2015.

[Loz]

I think Ed have been reasonably sure footed on the looting issue (shutting Mad Hattie up was a good move as well), but is still invisible and making little impact on the electorate at large.