In the face of unprecedented negative poll numbers Labour must hold its nerve and not panic. In the age of social media old verities do not apply in politics. Moods change fast. New ideas become trends in hours. The sheer size in the Tory lead across every kind of poll is like an overheated stock market. Suddenly there is a correction.
The price is now being paid for the appalling infighting over the Labour leadership by the PLP, most of whom spent much of the last year broadcasting their opinion that Corbyn was useless, a loser and an incompetent and would lose any general election he fought. It is small wonder that this has become the common currency at Westminster and across almost all the media. The Tories have now raised their sights from a landslide to a massacre. All they and the media need to do is copy and paste the vitriol about the Labour leader from its sources in the PLP.
The confidence of May is now eye popping. Her sights are set not just upon huge gains in England, but a score at least of seats in Wales and Scotland. The quickest way to zap an independent Scotland is to take a dozen seats, as the party of the Union, from the SNP. That would wipe the smile from the troublesome Nicola Sturgeon and silence all talk of another indy referendum. May would go into the Brexit negotiations with a mandate unmatched by any other EU leader, most of whom head governments built on coalition. The ghost of Thatcher would stalk the corridors of Europe not in admiration but in envy.
Fortunately there is a but. And to this Labour must cling. It is this. There are millions, 24 million to be precise, who are registered but do not vote because they care not about Brexit or the Union or Corbyn. May leaves them cold. They care not for politicians because they have so many cares that drive the challenge of their everyday lives. Within sight of abundance around them they struggle with too little money, too long hours, too many debts and too many worries. Insecurity is their companion 24/7. In a caring society they feel nobody cares not for, but about them.
If Labour stops reading the polls and concentrates on the NHS, social care, mental health, school funding, benefit cuts for the vulnerable, the probation service, social workers, housing costs, loan sharks and much more they will find they offer hope and inspiration to the victims of the dark side of Toryism. And if they motivate them enough to give them the energy to vote and the faith that they really can help themselves through the ballot box by voting for the party and the non-leader who feels their pain, Labour will pull off the biggest political upset ever on June 8th. If Labour hears the cry of the forgotten millions, it will not be the strident vicar’s daughter who turns up in triumph to the Brexit negotiations, but the grey bearded old man, written off by everyone, but now master of all.
A very British ending that would be. Worth making an effort for. If you care.