Question: What do Crewe & Nantwich, Glasgow East and Henley have in common?
Answer: Nothing
That is the heart of the dilemma faced by Labour as ministers, councillors and union leaders gather in Warwick today to discuss the manifesto for the next election.
Labour is disliked by a] middle class Middle England b] Deprived, working class Glaswegians in an area of 25 per cent unemployment and c] Pimms-drinking punting types.
Finding a coherent policy platform which will appeal to all three demographics was possible under Tony Blair, who had the teflon ability to be all things to all people. Gordon Brown doesn’t have the same skill.
At least David Cameron has traction with a] and c]
Expect a raft of speculation this weekend over the imminent plot to depose the prime minister. But do Labour MPs really have the nerve?
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey