They’re right.
There are still loads of ‘Don’t Knows’ in the polls. The Don’t Knows lean Conservative, when pushed. Most of them say they will definitely or probably vote. If many of them do go back to the Tories, Labour’s lead will evaporate.
That’s why we cannot assume Labour will coast to victory.
He probably needs to go strong on corruption, incompetence, divisiveness & wilful destruction.
Labour have had to shift a long way to the right to win under current conditions. Left wing voters may mostly still turn out for them, even if they are (at best) dismayed & frustrated, but centrist & right wing voters, who may be just fine with the policies, aren’t necessarily aware of the change in direction, or are unclear where Labour now stands, or are unsure that Labour means what it is offering.
Getting all of these enthused enough to get to the polls and to vote Labour, despite their various misgivings, consequently seems more likely to come down to faith in Labour’s integrity than on policy.
There’s still this pernicious idea, which overrides evidence & lived-experience, that conservatism is inherently more responsible, and that liberalism & leftism are immature & erratic. Overcoming that perception is a massive hurdle and the importance of limbering up to do so cannot be overstated.
Modern conservative governance, not just in the UK, has failed to address the significant social, ecological, and economic changes facing our global society.
Unfortunately, despite these shortcomings, the fear of change and a reluctance to embrace progress ensure that conservatives won’t easily lose elections. It’s a recurring pattern seen not only in the UK but also mirrored globally. The past 13+ years of Tory rule highlight the challenges of an electorate that seems somewhat ignorant and self-centered.
