The way to beat UKIP is to “confront” them, says Tristram Hunt

Labour can’t afford to ignore or pander to UKIP, we can only defeat them by taking them on, says Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt. In an interview with today’s Independent ahead of a speech to the Fabian conference this weekend, Hunt says that it would be a mistake to go down the road of offering concessions to UKIP policy, as David Cameron has done, in order to win back lost support.

He said the key to defeating Nigel Farage lies in “confronting UKIP – going toe-to-toe with it-on Labour’s traditional territory”.

Some of Hunt’s analysis, and language, is similar to that in the academic research of UKIP’s support, Revolt on the Right. In particular, the downsides of globalisation and the feeling of many that they have been “left behind”:

“UKIP’s electoral success derives from an ability to speak into the living-rooms of the British public. To speak about the issue of globalisation and that, for big swathes of the electorate, this means a sense that they have been left behind.”

He also claimed that UKIP’s rise could help be a “clarifying force” for the Labour Party, providing a greater sense of purpose, values and distinction:

“UKIP is a clarifying force for the Labour Party. It forces us to draw inspiration from our progressive tradition and philosophy. To make the case for Europe and open markets, not retreat from the debate. UKIP identifies the tensions and anxieties of the British public. At this election, we will provide the answers.”

It will not go unnoticed that Hunt, who is sometimes described as a Blairite, prescribes a very similar solution to the UKIP threat as a certain former Labour leader. In October, Tony Blair told Progress magazine that chasing after UKIP on immigration would be a mistake. It is important not to sound like you accept the UKIP argument on immigration, he said, “because what you’re actually going to do is validate their argument when in fact you don’t believe in it.”