Report Says Labour Lacks Clear Values in Appeal to Progressive Voters

A report from UCL’s Policy Lab states that progressive voters have been driven away from Labour by a lack of argument and vision. The report draws on research from Stan Greenberg, a senior pollster to Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. Downing Street has been briefed on the research, which has also been shared with allies of potential leadership candidates.

Labour is preparing for local elections on Thursday that the party expects will produce poor results. The report suggests these outcomes could lead to a leadership challenge. It states that voters feel the current leadership has shown discomfort with progressive values.

The report identifies potential areas for stronger positions including a more robust approach toward the current U.S. president and a clearer defense of environmental policies. Stan Greenberg’s research indicates that the next general election will be won by the side that successfully unites left and right voter blocs.

This would require not only policy delivery but also a clear statement of core values. Marc Stears, the director of the Policy Lab, said the current leadership entered office on a wave of frustration with politics as usual and a promise of change. He added that there is no hiding from the frustration voters feel with the record so far.

Stears stated that while some of this relates to personal style, the report points to discomfort with progressive values. >"Keir Starmer came in on a wave of frustration with politics as usual and a promise of change. " — Marc Stears (The Guardian) The report cites the decision not to join the Iran war as an example welcomed by voters.

It states that this should have been accompanied by a strong values-based explanation rather than technocratic arguments about legality. James Baggaley of the Policy Lab said there had been an expectation that closer ties with the EU would signal a progressive shift, but that this alone would not meet voter expectations.

Baggaley added that progressive voters seek more radical approaches on public services, taxation, climate and democracy.

The report notes that unlike previous Labour prime ministers, the current leadership faces a challenge from a party to its left. It states that the response to the Greens will shape politics in the years ahead. Polling found the current leadership is viewed negatively by three-quarters of voters, a level similar to that recorded for the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The mayor of Greater Manchester received the highest positive rating at one-third of voters. Between 13 and 15 percent of progressive voters remain open to supporting Labour. The polling indicates that Reform UK has reached its ceiling with limited additional support available from Conservative voters.

A willingness to confront the current U.S. president produced strongly positive responses from voters. The report states that most progressive voters do not believe the current leadership has done enough in this area despite recent criticism of the U.S.

president. Focus group participants said the government had not shown values-based opposition to the current U.S.

president in the manner demonstrated by politicians in Canada and Spain. Strong messaging on climate change also received high support. The report describes a deep personal animosity toward the prime minister that extends beyond communication ability.

It concludes with a noted failure to come to terms with the newly polarised political environment.