The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
Focused on impeachment, Democrats may ignore the crucial lessons they need to learn from the smashing victory by Britain’s Trump clone, Boris Johnson, in elections this month.
The opposition Labour Party got its worst drubbing since 1935, and many longtime Labour strongholds in rust belt areas that were known as the Red Line turned Conservative blue. Some analysts doubt the relevance the British vote can have here.
I believe the similarities are striking. Here are five lessons the Democratic Party could learn from Labour’s defeat.
1. Personality may matter more than issues.
The candidate’s personality and voter appeal will be critical. That was the case not only with the dour and uber-left Jeremy Corbyn but with Johnson as well.
In an Opinium research poll on election day, 43 percent of voters who said they were not backing Labour cited party leadership as the prime reason. Corbyn was seen as shifty because he refused to take a clear position on Brexit. His tolerance of antisemitism within the party, and “friendship” with groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah offended many voters, not just the small number of British Jews.
Johnson’s personality and energy, on the other hand, helped him surmount his personal peccadilloes (which rival those of Trump).
The message: A left-center Labour candidate would have stood a far stronger chance of beating the Trump-like Johnson.
2. Far-left economic policies aren’t a winner
Apart from his personality, Corbyn’s far left policies failed to attract the Labour votes he needed. His platform included re-nationalizing the UK’s railways, water and electricity, a four day work-week, and forcing large private companies to give 10 percent of their shares to workers. This didn’t prevent Labour’s working class heartland from decamping to the Conservatives.
The message: Extreme left economic policies aren’t the key to winning over the working-class voters Democrats need to defeat Trump.
3. Face immigration issues but without scare tactics.
At pro-Brexit meetings and rallies in England, I heard complaints that politicians don’t listen to voters — as well as anger that European Union rules permitted European workers to be hired on contracts in Britain at below British wages. The immigration issue was a loser for Labour.
The message: The Labour Party never figured out how to address voter concerns about immigration without imitating Conservative scare tactics and lies on the subject. 4. Clarify who will preserve the social safety net.
To woo Labour voters, the populist Johnson pledged to pour billions of pounds into infrastructure in swing districts, as well as into the national health-care system. If he actually delivers this may cement Conservative control of the former Labour heartland.
The message: Trump has failed to deliver on infrastructure or health care; his last budget asked for massive cuts to safety net programs of a kind that British Conservatives would not contemplate. The proposals were nixed by Democrats, but Trump has suggested he would revive them if he wins in 2020. This should be a major Democratic talking point in trying to win swing voters back.
5. Young voters aren’t enough for victory.
Labour did well in 2017 elections due to a surge in youth registrations, when more than 60 percent of voters 18-29 backed the party. But the percentage of registered young voters remains low compared with the older population, and older voters, who trend Conservative, have a much higher turnout level.
The message: The situation is probably similar here. So don’t expect a surge of young people to guarantee victory.
Boris Johnson’s triumph is a sobering reminder that center-left parties must adjust to an era where personalities and identity politics can outweigh economics. Boris was nimble, on message, and gifted with a very weak opponent. Democrats can learn from his victory — and from how Labour defeated itself.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
