A "Progressive" change?
The left has a reputation. It's not a representation we believe is fair, and it's not how we would like to be perceived. Even the terms "left wing" or "the left" seem to invoke images and feelings of a militant protesting Marxist cult. At least that's what the press here in the UK will encourage you to think. This is something that is very damaging to the Labour party right now. How many interviews have we seen with the man in the street referring to Jeremy Corbyn as "some kind of communist".
Often the man interviewed would fare much better under a Corbyn led government. He would be paid more, have better public services and more opportunities in terms of education and employment. The reason people think this way is as much the fault of the left as of the right wing press. We often hear "we need to learn the lessons from the general election". This is true, but often interpreted in the wrong way. We don't need to learn to be more right wing, but learn how the Tories got their message across so well to the public.
Often the man interviewed would fare much better under a Corbyn led government. He would be paid more, have better public services and more opportunities in terms of education and employment. The reason people think this way is as much the fault of the left as of the right wing press. We often hear "we need to learn the lessons from the general election". This is true, but often interpreted in the wrong way. We don't need to learn to be more right wing, but learn how the Tories got their message across so well to the public.
Message discipline is a key element here. It doesn't matter which Tory MP is interviewed, they read the same lines, from the same memo and repeat, repeat, repeat. "Low welfare, high wage economy, Low welfare, high wage economy, Low welfare....". This repetition sticks in the mind and if you say it enough you actually begin to believe it. It seems even the Tory MPs believe it!
Labour needs to shake off these ghosts of the past, the "left wing" labels and rebrand with their own message of "Progressive Politics". In the USA we hear the left being described as progressive. This redefines the narrative and is a problem for the conservative right wing media, as its becoming much tougher to suggest that progressive policies are not good for the country. The word progressive is emotive. It inspires positive connotations of advancing and moving forward.
If Jeremy Corbyn came out next week and rebranded the Labour party as the party of progressive politics it could have a real impact. Every time they suggest a new policy they could debate its merits and how progressive the policy is. "Progressive, Progressive, Progressive." There's your message discipline for you.
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