IN 1935 a book by GE Dangerfield was published, The Strange Death of Liberal England’.
This attempted to explain and give reasons as to why the once great Liberal party had sunk so low in electoral esteem as to be unelectable in terms of forming a viable government.
I venture to suggest that it will not be very long before someone is tempted to write a similar book - ‘The Strange Death of Labour England’.
Tony Blair, the last Labour Prime Minister to be elected to office, had the good sense to recognise that to win and maintain power, as he did in three successive General Elections, he had to command support not just in so called traditional Labour heartlands but in places like Southampton, Exeter and nearer home in South Dorset.
Whatever limited comfort the Labour Party might draw from retaining its seat in Stoke should not disguise its well nigh terminal decline as a party capable of replacing the present government at the next General Election. And regardless of political affiliation, good government and viable democracy is not served without meaningful opposition.
This country urgently needs a left of centre party able to win support from across the whole country.
Whether that party is called Labour, Liberal or Social Democrat is of secondary importance compared with the task of building a party and leadership capable of winning an election in 2020, otherwise the sequel to GE Dangerfield’s book will soon be written.
GORDON CANN
Craigmoor Avenue, Bournemouth
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