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Many people do keep saying this (a shift in public opinion) but I'm not sure it's true. I think that view is why the electorate are cleaving into divides - because those on the left think that people have shifted to the left, but yet there don't seem to be enough people doing so to actually make a majority.
People like me (and a great number of people I know) haven't shifted more to the left. We've just become more polarised and those on the left (and right) are each shouting louder...
andyfallsoff-
I agree. If there is a shift in public opinion it is a recognition that the economics of austerity were pretty personal. Underwhelming at best. Devastating at worst.
I don’t see any appetite for Socialsm or massive spending, but I do think people are open to solutions to some of the bigger problems incoming.
Whoever is in power taxes are going to have to rise. Labour should look into using VAT instead of income and corporation tax (as these are now dodged). VAT actually tracks wealth quite well.
Labour are at least not ideologicaly at odds with tax rises. Any tax rises are politically more painful for the Conservatives. So that’s good.
Programs that actually save money long-term are the low hanging fruit. Chronic underfunding now means these exist all over. Solid plans to rebuilding these could be a vote winner if communicated well.
miro_o
Yes, very true. Corbyn's team have given some valuable emphasis to more 'socialist' policies, and that helpfully coincides with an apparent movement in public opinion. To try to revive a 'centrist' party would be a mistake as it would fail to acknowledge those evolving circumstances.