After May 1st: how can Labour win the south?

13 May 2008
18:00 to 19:30

This event aims to continue the debate we started in March around the resurgence of Giles Radice’s ‘southern discomfort’ theory. Unless Labour can hold onto its seats in the south of England, we will not be able to continue in power. This event will examine Labour’s fortunes in the south, and whether the 1 May’s local and London elections give any indication of what can be expected at the next general election.

With
Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills, and MP for Southampton Itchen
Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP, MP for Norwich South
Peter Kellner, president of YouGov
Joan Ryan MP, Labour party Vice Chair Campaigns, and MP for Enfield North
Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council (chair)

**YOU MUST REGISTER BY EMAIL TO ATTEND THIS EVENT**

Comments

Posted by Tamara on 16 April 2008, 3:50:57 PM

Good line-up ... I seem to recall John Denham making an excellent speech on this very topic.

It may be rather premature to use the May 2008 elections as a fair indication for voting propensities in 2010, particularly when Gordon’s having a bit of local difficulties currently! But in general it’s been quite obvious for sometime now that the government’s taxation policy is perceived to be persistently squeezing the (mostly southern) middle classes the hardest and it’s impact could be fatal for us.

It may be rather premature to use the May 2008 elections as a fair indication for voting propensities in 2010, particularly when Gordon’s having a bit of local difficulties currently! But in general it’s been quite obvious for sometime now that the government’s taxation policy is perceived to be persistently squeezing the (mostly southern) middle classes the hardest and it’s impact could be fatal for us.

It isn't going to be the earnest development of a new policy package that saves the progressive agenda from 10 years of Tory rule. It will be brutal realpolitik. Labour will not get a willing ear for its progressive ideas, while Gordon Brown is still in the top job. A human sacrifice is now needed to sate the public's blood lust for Labour and restore at least partially open minds. So I'd like to see Charles Clarke use this occasion to mount a leadership challenge. After all, Clarke went public about Gordon Brown's psychological weaknesses in 2006, while the then-Chancellor was trying to destabilise the then-Prime Minister. If MPs had listened then and paid better attention to Brown's personality, we would not now face the imminent destruction of the progressive agenda. For more on the link between Gordon Brown's personal and political weakness, see http://brown-out.blogspot.com