Want to tackle UKIP? Treat every Labour constituency like a marginal seat

There is a lot of debate at the moment about what we should do to address ‘the UKIP problem’. I’m relieved that the Labour Party is finally acknowledging that there is one after years of simply brushing off UKIP as a much bigger problem for the Conservatives than for us. While recent defections show that to be true, we have serious problems of our own – particularly in the North – with some traditional Labour voters switching from Labour to UKIP. However now we’re at last talking about it I’m not convinced that we’ve got the remedies right.

Being a Europe geek I attended a number of fringe events at annual conference on European issues. Fringes on Europe tend to be full of hard core Europhiles making ourselves feel better by reminding ourselves what Europe has done for us and wringing our hands about how, if only people knew all of this, they wouldn’t vote UKIP. This year was no different. One speaker old a packed room that when he explains to voters on the doorstep what UKIP actually stands for, they switch to Labour. I’m not sure where they are knocking on doors but I’ve never witnessed such a conversion.

Our national strategy seems to be similar: ‘UKIP: More Tory than the Tories’, our new messaging proclaims. Of Mark Reckless’ defection we said that it shows UKIP as the party of ‘Tory people and Tory money’. This is all of course correct and will no doubt have an impact on some, but not everyone. I spoke to a former Labour voter in a key marginal seat who plans to vote UKIP next May because she thinks all ‘London politicians’ are toffs and hates the bedroom tax. I told her that Nigel Farage is a millionaire with a massive house in Kent and supports the bedroom tax. “That might be true”, she said, “but he understands ordinary people.” In another seat a man said “UKIP are the only ones who are listening to us. I’ve had a Labour MP for 30 years and you’re the first person who’s ever knocked on my door.”

Alongside exposing UKIP as the heirs to Thatcher and challenging them on their barmy, extremist policies, we have to get serious about addressing the anger, frustration, disenchantment and disengagement which leads people to think they need to turn to UKIP to have their voices heard.

I could go on here about changing the voting system so more votes matter, devolving more powers to councils and communities, tackling head on the underlying issues which UKIP supporters raise most often (principally immigration) – and I think we should do all of these things.

But, frankly, if every single MP in the country – of all parties – treated their constituencies like key marginal seats and were out knocking on doors every single week we could eliminate half the UKIP threat in one stroke. I’d hazard a guess that there is a correlation between seats with a voter ID rate lower than 10% and UKIP polling double-digit support. People don’t feel like they’re being listened to by those in mainstream politics and huge swathes of the population are totally neglected by their councillors and MPs.

We shouldn’t be afraid to say this isn’t ok and put in place new rules to shake up the system. In Manchester councillors have contracts which require us to do various things including voter contact targets. If we don’t fulfill these contracts we’re not re-selected – and this is enforced. Many other LCF’s have similar things in place. We should put them in place for MPs too. The carrot would be extra support and resources for seats meeting their obligations, not just for key marginals. Yes this will require more funding, but if we are doing it right it will lead to more members, donations and funding. If we’re serious as a party about tackling voter apathy and disengagement and addressing the UKIP threat, we need to start by truly being a One Nation party, on the ground in every community.

People turn to ‘protest parties’ when they think no one is listening and to ‘send a message’ to the ruling political class. In 2009 this was the BNP. Now it is UKIP. It’s not about policies, it’s about being heard. Labour must be the party who is listening.