Reflecting on the Scottish referendum – the clock is ticking until May

When a hundred or so Labour MPs arrived in Glasgow during the referendum they would have been left in no doubt as to the real fight on their hands to win the 2015 General Election. Many spent a few hours on doorsteps canvassing and the reception they met probably came as a wakeup call of Big Ben proportions.

This referendum was an acute reminder of the challenges the Labour Party faces in convincing the electorate that they are a viable and credible government in waiting and where better to confront the issues than in the once unquestioning surrounds of the River Clyde during a highly charged national debate.

The MPs would have found a deep disconnection with politics from an electorate now highly selective about how and when they choose to engage and who are now accustomed to a sound bite populist representation of the issues of the day. That doesn’t mean the Labour Party has to subscribe to this format of political discussion but the message penetrating those homes has to be sharp, distinctive, believable and able to be implemented.

Evidence of how the demographics of 21^st century living have changed radically from previous generations could be witnessed by the number of non-responses from doors that remained firmly shut, no matter the time, or day of the week. The streets, like the houses were often uninhabited, apparently. Where was everyone? Undoubtedly many were silently nursing their own cynicism and doubts behind the letterbox. There are many people who have to be brought back into the conversation, representing a major challenge for the Labour Party. Historically that could be achieved in tandem with Trades Unions but that’s hardly the case now with today’s irregular work patterns – the opportunity for face-to-face discussion on vital issues has been lost somewhere only to emerge dissipated into the world of twitter and the internet. The Labour Party has to become once more relevant in the workplace, grounded in reality and tread where the Unions previously led.

How many are affected by zero-hour contracts? The sad simple answer is probably nearly every family, either directly or indirectly – it was a topic which came up time after time after time and it is the Labour Party which must show resolve in wiping out this practice – exactly the sort of bread and butter issues we should be seen to be fighting for, tooth and nail, with conviction.

In an era of flash mob politics where everyone can claim legitimacy for their opinions, a coherent rallying message should be in the forefront to overcome this disparate but nevertheless powerful social media movement which could seriously damage any political party with aspirations to govern. The politics of grievance however uncomfortable has to be confronted with sound argument to win over this constituency. People are sceptical but they still have to be won over.

Why has this scepticism, noticeable within successive generations, taken such a grip?

There is a belief, rightly or wrongly, that the Labour Party has sold out on its grassroots support and consistently facilitates policies more in line with Conservative philosophy – that’s what is being said, forcibly, on the doorsteps in traditional Labour territory. Labour has to explain and convince many how it is different from that way of doing politics and how it will retain its socialist principals and programmes. It’s not enough just to reiterate policy; the demand is to substantiate how this will be achieved, especially in terms of further devolved powers. A question posed was, where is the Labour Party’s blueprint for implementing these?

Memories are long and there is still a feeling that Labour has never quite undone the damage from the Thatcher era which left a sense of abandonment in these heartlands. The electorate wants leadership but they are turning elsewhere – an example of this would be the emergence of the Women for Independence organisation whose supporters would probably class themselves traditionally as Labour friendly. They have to be won over, all over again.

Out on the streets there is still solid support for Labour Party ideals but there is also a need to articulate a convincing persuasive argument that people can buy into. They want to be counted as a relevant and inclusive part of that vision and not taken for granted.

For the MPs reflecting on their Glasgow visit the clock is now ticking towards next May.