I am asked, a lot, about how Labour could effectively combat Reform without pushing further to the right, and basically just reinforcing Reform's messaging. So, buckle up, here's a thread on it. Disclaimer though, this a simplified thread of a complex issue, and even then it is going to be long. 1/ - ThreadSky

danielsohege.bsky.social • 15 days ago

I am asked, a lot, about how Labour could effectively combat Reform without pushing further to the right, and basically just reinforcing Reform's messaging. So, buckle up, here's a thread on it. Disclaimer though, this a simplified thread of a complex issue, and even then it is going to be long. 1/

Comments

stephenk900.bsky.social•15 days ago

The easiest way to combat Reform is not to push further to the right, but to make yourself more attractive. Do the things that WILL make a difference. Closer alignment with the EU, tackle high energy bills, nationalise water, railways, improve the NHS and social care. It can be done.

alexkanefsky.bsky.social•15 days ago

📌

danielsohege.bsky.social•15 days ago

The starting point is to recognise that Reform, or at least senior members, do actually know what they are doing. I can't stand Farage, but it would be a mistake to write him off, he is good at riling people up and, as with most populists, providing simple solutions for complex issues. 2/

danielsohege.bsky.social•15 days ago

You also need to recognise that Reform is gaining ground, and a large part of that is because people are not seeing improvements in their own lives. Fairly obviously, I disagree with the majority of so called "legitimate concerns" arguments, but people do believe them, and Reform weaponises them. 3/

danielsohege.bsky.social•15 days ago

People are looking for simple solutions though, and Reform through its tactics of blaming migrants and marginalised groups from every ill under the sun are able to tap into that. People have also lost faith in more "mainstream" parties, meaning Reform have an opportunity to push ahead. 4/

danielsohege.bsky.social•15 days ago

Immigration is a main issue which people are concerned about, we can't pretend otherwise. What we can do is look at why, and that brings us back to the weaponisation of it by the likes of Reform to create an "other" to blame for other issues. To tackle that you need to look at those other issues. 5/

smithmichaelw.bsky.social•15 days ago

To add a point this shouldn't be surprising - this was Lab's plan at the election. Process claims AND remove/return those who are not meant to be here. First and foremost that isn't unfair, morally wrong or generally questionable. It's what should have been happening for the last 10 years.

danielsohege.bsky.social•15 days ago

The picture becomes a little blurrier when you actually look at people's attitudes on an individual basis though. Overwhelmingly, those with particularly negative views on immigration tend to be in a minority. Overall, most people tend to sit in the middle ground, which makes them open to debate. 6/

danielsohege.bsky.social•15 days ago

Any approach to combatting Reform needs to "delegitimise" some of their arguments. A first step to this is challenging them on racism. Reform likes to claim they are not racists, and instead of just expressing "the legitimate concerns of the public". That is actually pretty simple to counter. 7/

uncriticalsimon.bsky.social•15 days ago

The trains in the Valleys *are* getting better, even if my own lines and buses aren't.

evies13.bsky.social•14 days ago

Just address poverty; NHS waiting lists; energy prices; crumbling schools; rejoin the EU; stop shit-talking irregular immigrants and create legal routes in...

deanm97.bsky.social•15 days ago

At the simplest level, they just need to start delivering stuff. Start getting the boat crossings down/increasing deportations/reducing waiting lists etc - if they can evidence delivery vs howling at the moon they will be just fine.

markpink.bsky.social•14 days ago

and talk about successes more.
And stop shit decisions like Heathrow/Drax which are not net zero compatible.

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