I recommend the excellent piece by Jon Cruddas MP in the New Statesman on why Labour lost the May 2015 General Election.
It draws on polling and Value Model Analysis. I have written before about the use of using Value Models before.
Labour is now only ahead in the Pioneer class. The Conservatives dominate the Prospector class and lead amongst Settlers.
Labour is the preserve of the liberal progressive Pioneers. But, even here, the Conservatives are co-opting the language of fairness and policies on higher wages, child care, and the NHS.
As Jon Cruddas concludes:
“In contrast Labour is becoming dangerously out of touch with the electorate and as of now appears unwilling to recognise its predicament. Labour’s historical task is to represent the interests of working people in government. It means listening to the people, trusting their judgment, letting them decide the destiny of their country. And it means recognising when we got it wrong and learning from our failure.”
Labour faces structural challenges to their future existence. They need to speak to their key electoral bases. In May 2015 the wing agenda did not persuade those key camps.
The upcoming loss of Trade Union funding will speed up the need to face those challenges.
I doubt the Party will be brave enough to make the changes it needs to.
Update
Chris Rose’s thoughtful and in-depth piece, that delves deeper into the Values analysis, is well worth reading