Thank you Nick. I think the problem is that for too long, Labour has told voters what it believes, instead of asking what voters believe. We have to start to listen when voters tell us they want credible economic plans rather than pie in the sky wish-lists. We need to listen to voters’ worries about spending, and their concerns about deficits. And when voters tell us they support policies like nationalisation and free broadband we sorry I have to stop you a minute — do you hear that buzzing too Nick? Where is that coming from? It’s stopped now. Weird.
Where was I?
Labour cannot appear deaf to the aspirations of the British people, no matter how convinced we are of our values. We have to start to listen to what the voters on the doorstep are telling us. I wish more Labour members would hear what I hear from voters. I hear that we only stand up for the workshy. I hear people say that we see Government as the solution to all social problems. I hear good, honest people say that we’re against people being successful. And when voters tell me that they want to see far higher taxes on the wealthy I there it is again. You hear that too right? It’s like a fly is stuck in a neon light. Can someone check the lights? It’s really distracting.
We have to listen before we can earn the right to be heard.
We have to stop speaking at voters, and start to speak with them. Decent, hardworking people believe we’re obsessed with fringe cultural issues that don’t speak to their values, or those of the nation. The voters I speak to want to hear about their local communities, not about rights for sexual minorities, or tearing down statues. They tell me they’ve had enough of the ‘woke metropolitan intelligensia’ speaking over them. And when voters say that they don’t actually endorse or identify with any of these labels it’s so loud again — you genuinely don’t hear anything? I think if anything it’s even bigger than a fly. Is it a bee? I can’t believe you don’t hear it.
The fact is that the British people told us some hard truths in 2019.
More than anything they told us that if we continue to sideline moderate voices, we will lose — and we will deserve to lose. So we need to listen to those in the mainstream who say they want a Labour party led by professionals. To listen to those who want to see a Labour party that’s unashamedly patriotic. And listen to those who want to see a Labour party that occupies the centre ground of British politics. And when voters say clearly that this is not, in fact, what they want, it is vital that we book an ear appointment please Charlie, I’m going to have to get this looked at. You all really can’t hear that zzzzz? This is getting silly.
