VIDEO: The Tories are in a death spiral
On Friday, I appeared as a panellist on GB News’s Dewbs & Co to discuss the results from Thursday’s local elections and their wider political implications (video below). My take on those results and the current political situation is as follows:
The Tories are in a death spiral and deserve to crash and burn. This government is probably the worst of my lifetime. It has mismanaged the country and the economy to the effect that we are now an ‘undeveloping’ country in which so many things just don’t work.
The Tories have betrayed all those traditional working-class, pro-Brexit, former Labour voters who voted for them for the first time in 2019. They should have prioritised the concerns of these voters over everything else, especially on issues such as immigration and levelling-up. Instead, they have abused their trust.
The working-class has not fallen back in love with the Labour party. Even though Labour performed well in the elections, the party is still seen by many, not unreasonably, as an outfit for middle-class urban liberals and graduates, and elements of the Labour party and trade union movement remain actively hostile to traditional working-class values (I say this as a long-time Labour member and trade unionist).
Too few Labour parliamentary candidates have any experience of working in the private sector. Far too often Labour candidates are drawn from that relatively small pool of individuals who went to university before working exclusively in the public sector or for a charity, non-governmental organisation (NGO) or as a parliamentary researcher or assistant. This paucity of private sector experience within its ranks is a real achilles heel for the party.
Reform UK is not the solution for working-class voters. It is essentially a Thatcherite party and would take us back to the bad old days of widening economic inequality and social injustice.
Anyway, the full episode can be watched here. As ever, I appreciate all feedback, positive or negative.
A reminder that you can follow me on X/Twitter: @PaulEmbery
I am long time conservative voter, apart from a couple times when i went "off piste", but now find myself politically lost. I agree with what you say. Who ARE they all now? I just don't believe a word any of them say anymore? I am truly saddened by all this. This would be my 50th year where i could vote & i really don't think i can do it? Sorry for rambling, i am just so frustrated. Keep being our voice Paul, maybe we can get through eventually.
The take on parliamentary candidates was mirrored by your Conservative opposite number with his comment about their candidates.
‘Not a fag paper between the two’ as me old Dad would say.