The reality of last year’s general election is that Labour’s failure to secure a victory in England, suffering at the hands of Ukip, ultimately resulted in our defeat. As a parliamentary candidate in Rochester and Strood for both the general election and the preceding by-election caused by the defection of Mark Reckless to Ukip, I am all too aware of the public mood that considered us out of touch. Both elections also revealed fascinating notions of nationalism, belonging and identity politics that as a party we must address, if we are to win again.
Emily Thornberry’s infamous tweet in Rochester, is perhaps the most pertinent example of the perceived disconnect between the public psyche and the party. The accepted interpretation of the tweet was that Labour saw displays of national pride and patriotism as symbolic of xenophobic sentiments and an assumed support for Ukip; as well as an underlying snobbery towards working-class culture. While concepts of patriotism do not always sit naturally with our principles, the reality is that to a number of potential and existing Labour voters they are of utmost importance. But an aversion to the institutions and traditions people hold dear has helped to create a perception that the Labour party is anti-English and does not share the values of the nation.
This perception, while unfair, must be challenged if Labour is to win back hearts and minds. In towns such as Rochester and Strood – the heart of Medway – it is more important than ever. Medway is home to communities that are still recovering from having their industrial heart ripped out, following the closure of the naval dockyard in the 1980s, a move that left whole working-class communities feeling a sense of abandonment by successive governments. Incidentally these were also the areas that during both elections, were more inclined to lend their support to Ukip.
Predictably concerns about migration also dominated parts of the debate in Medway. As a British-Asian I have always felt a sense of belonging and pride towards my birthplace but the migration debate has, at times uncomfortably, challenged this feeling; bringing into question what it truly means to be British or even ‘English.’ Largely, however, people’s fears are steeped in a sense that the world around them has changed rapidly and this has been one of the greatest factors in not only lending support to Ukip but in pushing notions of nationalism across the country – a change that Labour has failed to address or at times even acknowledge.
In Rochester and Strood, despite previously holding the seat, Labour have been pushed into third place. And we must recognise that to win again in places like this we must reconnect with the public and to address the perception that we are not a party that understands the English psyche. This does not compel us to abandon our broader socialist or social democratic principles but it does expect us to have a sense of pride in our national identity and the ability to relate to people’s lives.
We need an honest appraisal of our strategy at the last election, with recognition that we lost votes not only to the Tories but also to Ukip, as well as clear approach to migration concerns. It is right that we challenge the myths that often surround the immigration debate and refrain from scapegoating, but we must also understand people’s concerns as they see their communities transform around them.
Finally, while the issue of a Labour English identity makes for difficult consideration, it is essential that we look carefully at our party structures, how devolution can help Labour shape the debate and how we address our ‘Englishness’ problem. The challenge is a serious one and one that the party cannot afford to take lightly.
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Naushabah Khan is former parliamentary candidate for Rochester and Strood. She tweets @NaushabahKhan
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Some fair comment here. I am a socialist,a Labour member since 1979 and I love England. The dilemna is when do you lead and when do you follow? I grew up in the early 1960s in a white working class community. 2 up 2 down. No bathroom. I had never met anyone other than my teachers and the minister at chruch who had been to university. Both parents worked in a factory. The majority of people I grew up with and some of the people I loved would have: been; in favour of capial punishment, against legalising homosexual acts between consenting adults ( gay men were frequently referred to as perverts) and although they did not hate black and asian people would have throught that a landlord had the right to offer his property to “whites only”. They would have said “we have to look after our own” Labour’s Roy Jenkins challenged all of that and convinced people of his arguments and went on to change the UK as part of the team that won in 1964 and 1966 and but for a freak trade gap would have won in 1970 when Labour lost with 43.1% of the vote – just 0.1% less than the Blair “landslide” of 1997. Maybe we could take a more patriotic stance by campaigning on the following Union Jack principles a) Small British businesses pay their tax so lets ensure that American Google and McDonalds pay theirs b) We should be bulding our nuclear power stations and HS2 not the Chinese. c) We should be running our railways not the Germans, Dutch and the French d) The Gulf states should not own huge tracts of London so they can put up £2m flats and leave them empty – Yours Paul Bower former councillor and Red Wedge co-ordinator
It is imperative that we get our values and identity right, and sufficiently close to those of the nation, so that we can give a strong lead to the country and not meekly follow. We’ll fail if we merely mirror the fears and prejudices among many voters. We must have principles that last and resonate with the electorate.
At the moment all our energy for the next 4 weeks should be spent on supporting the Remain campaign and these what I may call ‘academic’ Labour nationalism debates should wait to after the Referendum. We all should be vigorously making the case for Stronger In Europe or Labour In Europe.
Why? 1) Brexit would mean Boris J, Nigel Farage , Gove and Jacob Rees Moggy achieving power and indulging in a burning of Worker’s Rights, Social Chapter, Consumer regulations etc., reducing the public services and shifting England to a ‘real’ neo-liberal agenda ( why else do you think they have the Rupert Murdoch, Desmond and Beaverbrook press behind them)
2) If we can expose and demolish the Brexit arguments we can shift hopefully politics back to the centre left away from the far Right wing guys ; who are the most vulnerable to that daily press propaganda , the less educated older guys who are now deemed to be Brexit voters but were once our voters .
Yes of course we have to revise our attitude to migration and resources but the biggest battle the Centre Left and all the Left face is now simple ; Brexit Right Wing Triumph for decades running England( with Scotland gone back to the EU) or nationwide UK Social Democracy situated in the international context! This is not a game its a fight for Labour’s heart and soul.