I'm always surprised at Labour's unwillingness to re-engage with the EU. Since all now agree that Brexit was monumentally stupid, if there's anything that's even more stupid it's doing nothing about it. Rejoining would be an instant win with the younger voters, and an immediate and huge boost to the economy.
Labour are engaged with the EU however there is a limit on how far they go at present. One question is would the EU accept an application for Britain to join and I suspect while we retain FPTP the answer will be no. The media are treating Farage as a shoe in at the next election, so any progress Labour made would be undone.
Feels like this whole debate assumes politics is about giving voters what they want, rather than changing their minds.
But people changing their minds is crucial! Indeed democracy would barely function without it. When I suggest that Labour could win back Reform voters, that does not entail Labour tilting their policy platform to the right (whatever Morgan McSweeney thinks). As you note, these are people who voted Labour in the past but their views shifted rightward. Well, shift their views back again! Get your most charismatic, most persuasive communicators our there, and win hearts and minds!
I have not followed your politics that closely, but as your namesake, I enjoy reading you posts. I'm surprised how close the US politics is. Many of our labor (a lot of democrats) have switched to red (Trump). A lot are having second thoughts, but sadly, "the fix is in now", so it may never go back to a democracy.
I'm always surprised at Labour's unwillingness to re-engage with the EU. Since all now agree that Brexit was monumentally stupid, if there's anything that's even more stupid it's doing nothing about it. Rejoining would be an instant win with the younger voters, and an immediate and huge boost to the economy.
Labour are engaged with the EU however there is a limit on how far they go at present. One question is would the EU accept an application for Britain to join and I suspect while we retain FPTP the answer will be no. The media are treating Farage as a shoe in at the next election, so any progress Labour made would be undone.
Feels like this whole debate assumes politics is about giving voters what they want, rather than changing their minds.
But people changing their minds is crucial! Indeed democracy would barely function without it. When I suggest that Labour could win back Reform voters, that does not entail Labour tilting their policy platform to the right (whatever Morgan McSweeney thinks). As you note, these are people who voted Labour in the past but their views shifted rightward. Well, shift their views back again! Get your most charismatic, most persuasive communicators our there, and win hearts and minds!
I have not followed your politics that closely, but as your namesake, I enjoy reading you posts. I'm surprised how close the US politics is. Many of our labor (a lot of democrats) have switched to red (Trump). A lot are having second thoughts, but sadly, "the fix is in now", so it may never go back to a democracy.