So there we have it, Hartlepool turns blue and the council elections are an unmitigated disaster for Labour.
It’s impossible for them to spin this any other way.
It’s been interesting to hear comments on the BBC this morning from Labour councillors who’ve lost seats, they themselves feel that the party isn’t relevant anymore.
This is a classic case of trying to face two ways at the same time, desperate to maintain their status within London with the “okay yah” elite living in Fulham etc and still calling everyone “brother/sister” and shouting “power to the people” up North.
You can’t have it both ways.
It’s interesting to me how the Tories don’t worry about places like Liverpool because they know that Boris is so disliked there and they don’t bother much with Scotland, they pretty much write these places off.
Starmer wear a dress made of yoghurt in Chelsea and a boxing glove up North FFS.
People want authentic and what they continually fail to understand within Labour is that the English in particular love a character.
Everyone loved Arthur Daley back in the 70’s and 80’s on Minder, it’s the same mentality with Boris, he gets away with stuff because a lot of us recognise our own flaws within him.
The perfect leader for Labour at this time would’ve been John Prescott if he’d been younger.
Another “character” who people can relate to and someone else who lead with his chin.
For as long as Labour continues to chase the Fulham set and the hard Left Scouser type it’ll fail.
Someone needs to confront the truth like Kinnock did with Derek Hatton’s lot in the 80’s.
Labour need to find themselves a proper leader, someone with charisma and kerb appeal but I suspect that after Starmer goes it’ll be a Rebecca Wrong Daily Corbynista that’ll get the job and so the cycle will continue.
The truth of the matter is that a new Left Centre party, an amalgamation with Lib Dem and Greens is what’s needed.
A party with a “rejoin the Eu” agenda possibly and with a strong green emphasis aimed at “normal” people is the only way I can see forward for those who don’t want the Tory lot in power.