Are the Tories losing their suburban heartlands? | Anywhere but Westminster

As their national election trek goes on, John Harris and John Domokos hit the Surrey town of Guildford, recently won by the Conservatives with a big majority, but shaken up by Brexit, a new cosmopolitan culture, and people's rising unease about poverty and homelessness.
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The former Conservative MP is running as an independent; the Lib Dems think they're on the march. Only one thing is certain: all the old political categories and cliches are useless
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#AnywhereButWestminster #Tories #Conservatives #Politics #UK #guildford

[@theGuardian]

The latest instalment of Anywhere but Westminster is available here ► kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHWUlYtqZ9h1kKM

[@garethlloyd1815]

You people make me sick

[@alanbstard4]

it not anti modern. It's anti the corporate glabalisation and what comes with it

[@gazzaboo8461]

You were all laughing before the election. Well, you're not laughing now, are you!

[@arkadeepkundu4729]

"We're not angry, we're just a little bit sad." - British politics, 2019

[@WhichDoctor1]

Big mood

[@sickslickhick]

Sad evolves into anger in my experience. American here

[@MRJDXTRA]

@@sickslickhick anger leads to hate Hate leads to the dark side

[@MRJDXTRA]

@HighHopesBass probably but i sometimes think hate doesn't always lead to suffering. but to the Jedi, maybe?

[@Honourable66]

And that is the north/south divide in a nutshell.

[@realnoahsimpson]

poor guy at a foodbank is voting Tory rich pensioners voting Lib Dem the world's gone mad

[@realnoahsimpson]

How To I somewhat agree

[@schmootheonly]

@How To are you kidding... The Tories are the party of Old Money

[@schmootheonly]

@How To the working man doesn't pay the high taxes...

[@AlexRoseGames]

@@schmootheonly 12k untaxed and 17% corporation tax for small businesses means that yeah, the working man doesn't pay high taxes right now.

[@tylermiavlogs5441]

How To those policies help the working man....any working man voting Tory is a dunce

[@gsiv2667]

This series is actually brilliant. So much more insightful than what we see on mainstream news

[@theGuardian]

Thanks GSiv2, much appreciated.

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

Bitcoin Beast is the Guardian all one sided?

[@blazzz13]

@Bitcoin Beast Please let us know who your news sources are that are so impartial.

[@mdlsvensson]

This is The Guardian. The mainstream news. Just to be clear on that.

[@pgl0897]

The most telling comment in this whole piece is from the ex tory MP of many years standing who now feels liberated because she can “tell the truth”. Sums up everything you need to know.

[@bartram33]

pgI0897 She is one of the few politicians I would actually trust.

[@jpw6893]

@@bartram33 so they fact she lied for all those years makes you trust her??

[@bartram33]

J Williams Yes, always admire people who are honest enough to admit their mistakes.

[@jpw6893]

@@bartram33 but she was comfortable lying all those years to her voters. Nothing to say that she is lying now? What about Corbyn? Anti EU for years, so lying then or now??

[@AlexAHeisok]

J Williams Corbyn has been anti to the structures of Eu which he describes as a ‘capitalist club’ for the bankers - Just like how you probably don’t hate Europeans but you hate the Eu no?

[@jojo94101]

"I want to be a stockbroker." Confirmed voting Conservative

[@edbop]

The sad thing is she doesn't realize that job is already done predominantly by algorithm.

[@dewexdewex]

@@edbop I want to be an algorithm.

[@Mojo-IRE]

@@edbop No it's not Brokers are on the sell side algorithms are used by traders on the buy side. If anything the brokers will have access to algo's if their gonna be executing trades. They still have to manage clients over the phone and attract new business.

[@edbop]

@@Mojo-IRE I get that there will be humans involved in drumming up new business; are you saying that brokers are selling to algorithms?

[@menzies09er]

@@edbop i dont think you understand financial markets my guy. Brokers still exist in the same numbers as any other time, but they get paid much less these days as selling stocks is no longer very profitable (bonds still are). But how do algorithms get involved in the sale of any financial product?

[@llauram3650]

"doing physics I know there's just chaos generally" LOL

[@bittasweetsymphony726]

yeh but thats just a theory

[@cosmopolitanwonder9675]

Political chaos he means Duh.

[@llauram3650]

Nice to meet you bot.

[@littleclum]

@@llauram3650 called out lol :D

[@albinjohnsson2511]

​@@cosmopolitanwonder9675 He's obviously referring to entropy or chaos theory, given the "I'm doing physics so I know...."

[@SolosSpirit]

Did you just forget to ask that quantum physics student "what did you think about the electron?" instead of "What did you think of the election?" ?!?! >:(

[@johnboy1536]

His reply would be charged with negativity.

[@Billy8ob]

He asked how do you feel about the election

[@SolosSpirit]

@@Billy8ob I think you missed my joke :| :)

[@pseudonayme7717]

😄Bravo! I lol'd so thank you (I'm easily pleased)

[@contigo121]

He would have compared both to Schrodinger's Cat. All possibilities and outcomes equally and simultaneously likely.

[@Rafael-xt1nm]

That last guy interviewed says it all - a poor broken person voting for the very people who are happy to impoverish him even more. Heartbreaking really.

[@SparxSA]

How exactly does conservatism make the poor poorer? If anything, Labour's Marxist claims of seemingly endless free things, from the nationalisation of large businesses and borrowing money, will do just that.

[@CC-zv2nx]

He deserves it for being dumb!

[@ukwoodcarver]

The 'poor broken man' has more integrity and pride than you will ever have! He believes in 'right and wrong'. He respects his fellow human beings and democractic processes. Shame on you!

[@ukwoodcarver]

@@CC-zv2nx You're disgusting and lack basic empathy

[@Epicrandomness1111]

@radort 'spending money boosts the economy' literally just means that more money's being spent in an economy, for what and to what ends?. GDP is a useless stat for whether the economy being boosted is in anyway beneficial for most people.

[@milianozuniga-deanda4955]

When a homeless person says they're voting conservative......

[@colinboxall9782]

@Aaron97oD It's suicidal. Like voting for Greenparty if you're in the fracking industry.

[@32446]

Shows how shocking Labour are.

[@samcooke343]

@@32446 I disagree - it shows how working-class media like The S*n and the Daily Mail are owned by billionaires and feed misinformation to the working class in order to keep the elite in power.

[@colinboxall9782]

@Anonymous UK So you're a working class man voting for the Tory elites? Don't expect anything to change.

[@heliotropezzz333]

@@32446 According to the Tory press.

[@thestooshie]

Yer man who is visiting food banks but voting Brexit Party or Tory It baffles

[@benreid5852]

Lindsey Crawford baffles and hurts. I just cannot rationalise it in any way.

[@jonb12321]

@@benreid5852 He doesn't confuse what might be best for him right now with what might be best for the country? Life isn't about simple binaries ...

[@danieloliver4558]

Working class people voted to leave. They will vote for whoever will implement it

[@YA-hm5zy]

@nomad 101 they read the sun and daily mail that's why.

[@YA-hm5zy]

@@danieloliver4558 because they have been told that foreigners are stealing their jobs. They'll get their wish but still stay on the dole.

[@mariecrowe8843]

A man using a food bank and voting Tory makes me know I have entered a parallel universe, where everything that was once knowable is no longer so.

[@keithstaffordgundogtrainin9960]

The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Steven Biko

[@tx5190]

"A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims, but accomplices." --- George Orwell.

[@sirsiralot7635]

That actually very well describes the reason I have never voted!

[@wecandothiswarriors]

I am not voting

[@tx5190]

They all can't be corrupt, can they?

[@nickbonney333]

@@tx5190 Yep.

[@duncansinclair586]

A tory I liked

[@Pau1danelli]

Guy at the end, poor, Ill, using food banks still voting conservative or brexit. Honestly. This country.

[@davidshrimpton3600]

Paul Whitehead almost as if new labours policies were a total dream and brought nothing but prosperity to the working people of this countty

[@ruk2227]

@@davidshrimpton3600 but that's just not true is it

[@davidshrimpton3600]

Ru k no. And voting Marxist will make us the poorest we’ve been for a very long time

[@ruk2227]

@@davidshrimpton3600 Hundreds of people literally die on the streets every year, hundreds of thousands more living in poverty.

[@davidshrimpton3600]

Ru k what’s your point. There is less unemployed now then ever. Does any of this prove anything? I’m guessing you are assuming I’m a conservative! But no I’m not. If you are on the streets in a society that imports labour you e got more than financial issues

[@BL-zi9wb]

This didn't age well!

[@MrDanielfff777]

Lol

[@HS-wo8ti]

Here we are... Friday the 13th of December and the election map is a blue sea in Surrey and the South East and West. The question you pose in the title of this video has been answered with a resounding 'no'.

[@thomassheppard6061]

Why are so many people ignorant of history, the struggles that went on to bring about rights that so many of us take for granted?

[@knockitoffhudson3470]

What about when Labours would be chancellor of the exchequer, in charge of all financial and economical matters is on record describing himself as a Marxist, should we remember history then?

[@thomassheppard6061]

Totally, and the Trade Union movement.

[@norriaty]

The problem with your comment Thomas is that not everyone who is familiar with British history is in favour of trade unionism and neither do they always agree that it helped to establish worker's rights. Charles Dickens for example is one of the great 18th century champions of the poor and visited many factories in the North to observe the development of trade unionism. However, he was appalled by their behaviour and his portrayal of Union leaders in Hard Times reflects this, he sees them as little more than opportunist rabble rousers. Furthermore, many of the rights enjoyed by workers today actually stem from industrialists like Sir Titus Salt here in Yorkshire who realised that by providing better living and working conditions for his workers he was able to increase productivity and profitability. Saltaire, his model village built for his workers remains a desirable residential area to this day. There are arguments for and against trade unionism but it is reductionist to suggest that an knowledge of history would automatically deliver somebody to be in favour of trade unionism or socialism, it is much more nuanced then that.

[@Isleofskye]

@@thomassheppard6061 I had the great fortune and pleasure to work in a Nationalised Industry from 1973-1989 inclusive. We had a total monopoly and did what we wanted. 2 hour lunches.Sports tournaments at work during the day.Fiddled flexitime plus our 6 weeks plus our extra weeks annual sickie days ( to be tahen on Monday and Fridays naturally ). In the last year I wrote 2 letters all year and after putting in just over £8,000 into my Government assisted Pension Pot I bow will be getting around £350,000 assuming living the average male age. GOOD OLD LABOUR !!!!!!!!!

[@revol148]

because deep down most people are Tories.....

[@ASBlueful]

People: don't want poverty Also people: voting for neoliberals

[@voltairesiphone2151]

EU: Lifts people out poverty You: Not that kind of neoliberalism!! Why do you think people were willing to risk death to escape the GDR for neoliberal West-Germany? Think for just a minute. Your definition of neoliberalism is stupid socialist caricature.

[@pseudonayme7717]

You want a realistic characterization of the actual reality of neo-Liberal policies? Feeding the poor to the rich.

[@oneoflokis]

@Jamie Brennan Lots of FibDems are though. Orange Book? Neoliberalism.

[@Awoo-]

@Jamie Brennan If you believe that you don't understand the phrase neoliberal. Both the Lib Dems and the Cons are neoliberals, Blair was a neoliberal too, both American parties are neoliberals although some members within the party are not (Bernie/AOC). The phrase in general refers to those that support the establishment neoliberal elite. The structure that props up the billionaires, the millionaires, the capitalist system, the power structures and media all built around propping up the power of a few. That is the neoliberal establishment and these people, the Cons, Farage, Libs, all deeply support the neoliberal establishment.

[@JJ-te2pi]

Oh shut up. Only Tories or Lib Dems can win in Guildford

[@simoneaves9941]

THIS is journalism! It's simple, investigative, candid. John Harris approaches the question, and the questions without a hint of malice. He doesn't try to convince people either way -although sometimes the interviewees are asked gently penetrating questions - and by doing so might convince more people to think a little before they mark a box. Thank-you the Guardian, and thank-you John(s). If only this were on prime time-tv, and its approach: widely adopted by media and news content providers. More please!

[@markdal49]

Its vox pops. Hardly cutting edge journalism. But your comment does serve to prove what most people these days consider to be journalism. Shame.

[@SirAmicVarze]

Most of these 'moderates' are just single issue Brexit voters. If that wasn't happening then they'd be all too happy to still be Tories and continue inflicting austerity on the country.

[@parisn1fan]

The takeaway for me was that the homeless person is voting Tory. The world is lost.

[@Pinlady0203]

He thinks he is one of the 'deserving poor' and that everyone else on benefits are scroungers (ie immigrants)

[@allensastre5891]

"How will you be voting?" "Tactically. Against the Tories"

[@LONDON1KaZR]

Labour isn't going to win. Sorry.

[@melmel1071]

Corp Sjun the polling systems that show the expected results have only been done through landline services. Therefore anyone without s landline hasn’t had a say with the expected results. It’s a very close things. But I’m excited to see.

[@LONDON1KaZR]

@@melmel1071 Labour cannot win. The tories are hardly better than Labour but Jeremy Corbyn and his goons must not be allowed anywhere near Downing street.

[@MrDiarmaidJDineen]

Bloody love this series

[@whattaboy209]

"politics is not made up of monolithic blocks, don't stereotype people" Haha, just check the racial/gendered voting patterns. This guy is chatting nonsense.

[@kljmaq]

Who's here after Boris has won a Conservative 80 seat majority? The Guardian, as always, is hilariously useless.

[@Himmelhauser]

The most articulate was the Labour supporter.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

Yes, but his vote won't count there, he'd be better off voting LD to help stop brexit

[@nicci24]

@@alexanderstefanov6474 I totally get where's he's coming from. Only ever tactically voting means the party you support doesn't get the votes. People voting Green is what has forced Labour to listen and write some green policy. If they weren't losing thousands of left votes to the Greens, they wouldn't care. It's a horrible situation. We're desperate to get the Tories out, but we also need to be able to vote with our values.

[@dreamer2260]

@@alexanderstefanov6474 Not true! Labour's vote share in Guildford has been steadily rising for the last few general elections; in the 2017 general election, Labour got 10,545 votes, pretty close to the Lib Dems on 13,255. The Tories won with 30,295 votes, but this time, with the right wing vote split three ways, between the Brexit party, the Tories, AND Anne Milton (who won Guildford as a Conservative but is now standing as an independent), Labour are in with a real chance.

[@ruk2227]

@@nicci24 Thats why we electoral reform to a more proportional system, then everyone can vote with their conscience but that'll never happen as long as the 2 parties exist as they are.

[@positivepumpkin3081]

@@nicci24 And if you don't vote tactically you'll get the Tories. Do you think they'll be in a rush to implement AV or PR?

[@Leo.R.H]

YES TO THE QUANTUM PHYSICIST!

[@MontyCantsin5]

7:10: A voice of reason. Can you interview more quantum physicists, please?

[@stuartmaltby2035]

Interview, forget that. The man needs a weekly podcast.

[@MontyCantsin5]

@@stuartmaltby2035: I would listen to that. :)

[@josephbrennan370]

@@Sersparky are we really doing enough though? Are we converting to more renewable sources of energy or nuclear? Have we declared a climate emergency? I don't understand what you mean when we are one of the best. That fact is so skewed as only the rich minority western nations can feasibly change to renewable sources. Even then we are miles behind the Scandinavian nations (who are ahead of us in many areas already). I ask you whether you believe we are doing enough when we have the capacity to do more and lead the way on the climate change frontier.

[@IAMSHADZ]

The PhD dude needs his own segment.

[@JasonTheGreat18]

"We don't often hear from remainers" WHAT!?!?!?

[@EonRifft]

I went to that university, I am not surprised to see that some of students are generally apathetic unless it involves money. That was my department's general attitude, pull in as many international students (outside EU) as they could, cut classes to local students and give extra to international so they could make more money. I'm saddened to see the homelessness there is increasing, but it is nice to see that the people are trying to bridge the divide; with actions as well as empathy.

[@lstarkiller1]

Shoutout to the guy at 7:11 studying quantum physics who is fully onboard with the only logical choice (Labour)

[@arrg2u2]

@Rags Toriches well until one looks which place your at

[@anders69curt]

"Half the country voted Remain and we never hear from them" - This this some kind of joke? They're moaning on the airwaves all day every day. The whole media circus is stuffed with remainers.

[@satyris410]

I think we should retroactively assign a two-thirds majority for the brexit vote.

[@emilyinbetweener]

I’m dead at all these “ex conservative” voters annoyed cause they voted remain.

[@ULTIMARAGNAR0K]

Probably cba doing visas to visit threir 3rd home in France

[@MRAROCKERDUDE]

I'm a gay Scottish Conservative, ex-Labour voter who voted remain and no to Scottish Independence. Top 3 issues for me: 1. The Economy 2. Brexit 3. Climate Change You couldn't tell any of that from looking at me. So don't tell me because I'm a conservative voter I don't care about climate change and don't think that because I'm young and gay I'm an automatic leftist.

[@limo_was_here]

really don't get your point lol

[@MRAROCKERDUDE]

@@limo_was_here I'm commenting on the presenters comment regarding outward stereotyping of voters.

[@Slaychelle]

But the Tories are running the economy into the ground...and Boris is a mini-Trump. He couldn't care less about climate change. The cognitive dissonance is astounding.

[@adscri]

If you are indeed young, then your #3 concern should be #1. When climate change clicks in with a vengeance - and sadly it looks as if it will - your other concerns will be like pimples compared to an incurable plague.

[@wilfsymes1098]

You have to pick a side. You can’t vote tory and claim to advocate for change

[@coolbreez773]

As I think Malcolm X said........ the folk being oppressed will start loving the folk doing the oppressing!

[@charliewright4044]

The answer is No

[@tmk_maxx]

No.

[@Michelrs]

The first old lady looks so nice and kind.

[@nrw5513]

Honestly great insight, as a "loonie leftie" from Scotland I cant deny having preconceived notions about these suburban Tory strongholds down south and this has really opened my eyes to quite how fractured Brexit has made these communities (plus made me realise some conservatives do have a heart ;) . Great journalism, keep up the good work.

[@ravenuk2880]

So he's requesting food from food banks because of his illness, but then will vote Tory? What a muppet.

[@noreagaal-mo8553]

Raven 2017 perpetual cognitive dissonance. Sad state of mind.

[@DaveVersteeg]

I think it has to be about his upbringing and schooling. Its the same in the USA. There a lot of poor and/or lowly educated who voted for Trump and republicans. And that is basically against their own self-interest. I can only think that because of schooling those people do not follow the news, live in their own news bubble, and then start to think in ways that are self destructive. If that is not one of the reasons than i am clueless.

[@thethirdman2135]

The labour parties delibrate mass immigration MASTERPLAN for future generations of labour voters, was a wetdream for big buisness and a disaster for low skilled British working class people

[@theconversation9103]

@@thethirdman2135 ergo Big Business should be supporting Jeremy Corbyn. Strangely, they're not

[@BallsTheDog]

It's because labour has made the effort to point out they care more about immigrant and LGBT issues than that of the average joe.

[@AntiChris84]

I really hope the quantum physics guy can take us to another universe if Boris wins.

[@Rosie6857]

I would rather he take Boris to another Universe.

[@BB-qp9ri]

I really hope corbyn is finished after this election, he’s destroyed the Labour Party

[@noahhughes2501]

@@Rosie6857 yes please

[@nutcracker2916]

@@BB-qp9ri You got your wish.

[@gerokron3412]

I come here from Germany to understand Britain and Brexit. So I see a brilliant piece of journalism and now I´m at the same time confused and satified. Strange country.

[@francisr8563]

Concerned by the rise of food banks but actively vote Tory? Whit?

[@elipa3]

I am asking myself, what they would say today.

[@martinmessiah7130]

Don’t underestimate the people that voted to leave . 1.7 million equates to all of Birmingham ,all of Manchester ,all of Nottingham,all of Liverpool, and a lot more. You forgot about all the hard working traditional labour voters that will vote for Nigel and will now vote for the Conservatives .

[@Aarontlondon]

That guy in the food bank who can't afford to buy food thinks voting Tory is the best thing because people have been talking about Brexit too much. Wow, he is sums up the issue in politics. There are far too many disenfranchised people who don't have a clue what they're voting for and it's so sad.

[@Fishul]

This aged well

[@TheBlackWolf444]

Like a fine milk....

[@californiadreamin8423]

No sign of Charity shops, and empty shop windows / to Let signs . Why am I not surprised.

[@libbylangley7099]

The high street in Guildford is posh but they didn't film on North Street which is adjacent to it and like your average high street with a Poundland and CEX

[@californiadreamin8423]

Libby Langley Sorry Libby. I appreciate your comment, but I know of towns which have whole sections of the centre full of closed down shops. I am thinking of Northwich for example where I have friends.

[@libbylangley7099]

@@californiadreamin8423 ohh sorry I totally see what you mean now!

[@californiadreamin8423]

Libby Langley We mustn't worry though. It's the start of a "new dawn and a golden era "

[@zoeloutay4734]

Since when has 'I always have' been a viable reason!!

[@dirtyden1]

People who vote out of tradition know nothing.

[@andrewf4623]

Labour tend to vote out of habit far more than Tories do though....

[@dirtyden1]

You get it on both sides though. There's a lot of distrust in politics nowadays.

[@simonmorris4226]

More the case that Labour has lost its working class heartlands.

[@Danny-ut4xm]

This didn't age well did it lads

[@ptiquinquin]

Voting remain does not mean you are a Tory. Neo liberal or not, that is the question! The level of poverty, homelessness whilst in the EU is shocking. The EU does not guaranty social justice. Far from it! The Lib Dem have voted for every austerity measure the Tories put forward since 2010. Yellow Tories.

[@turnerpar]

Oh the Joy of watching this after the results. Guess who won this seat? TORIES!

[@aperson9768]

is there any joy watching this now?

[@nutcracker2916]

Oh dear! Maybe they should have gone up North. And asked . Are Labour losing their traditional northern heartlands ? After their dreadful display yesterday.

[@gilesjazzguitar64]

I find the Guardian a tad pretentious and out of touch.

[@tams805]

>do some of the little genuine and poignant reporting. >get called pretentious and out of touch. wat

[@Benzknees]

A “tad pretentious and out of touch”?!! How about utterly and totally pretentious and out of touch.

[@TheOfficialParados]

Robert Goldie what because his name is Giles and he plays the guitar

[@andrewhanlon5855]

i feel so angry at , yet understand that poor man in the food bank, he has nothing yet is prepared to vote Brexit party/tories to 'get brexit done'. how did we get into this position when people who have nothing believe thier lives will improve after???

[@jpw6893]

You don't have to be rich to believe in democracy.

[@denisasokolova3800]

@@jpw6893 as long the democratic referendum and the whole stuff was honest and correct. And it was not. There are british people even now to be prepared to sale the future of theirs country only to get paid very well by russians.Putin is desperate to get UK out of EU, he needs safe his money somewhere.,, Magnitsky Act,, He is desperate to brake up everything what doesnt suit to his targets. His very nice smile to anybody? Of course he was trained KGB agent. Who can be surprised that he is top acter.

[@andrewhanlon5855]

@@jpw6893 is your definition of democracy lying to win votes?? explain that one to me...

[@jpw6893]

@@andrewhanlon5855 my definition of democracy is for parliament to respect a vote and carry out the instruction. What's your definition???

[@knockitoffhudson3470]

It only took three years for the Remainers to enact their plan, just pretend they never lost and try and debate it again. Shameful.

[@rhysepoos]

Can't believe the guy at the food bank voting Conservative! Talk about turkeys voting for Christmas...

[@jonjohnson2844]

I can't stand the Guardian but John Harris is fantastic, even as a leave voter I respect his journalistic integrity, something lost on most contemporary journalists who are effectively activists.

[@billgreen576]

Possibly for the first time in 100 years people are being forced to think about what voting means and not just going into a booth and ticking the box with the appropriately recognisable logo because they always have or because their parents did. Tribal politics is being smashed and that surely is a good thing. Hopefully we are on the beginning of the road to the end of FPtP.

[@evilpixie96]

after 40 years the torys have lost me aswell

[@andrewhanlon5855]

evilpixie96 unfortunately fir every long time Tory they lose they gain a right wing ex ukip / brexit party member

[@SeriouslyJaded]

Expat Welshman here - you guys do a great job. Been riveted to your series since I came across it a year or so ago. Keeps me in touch with the real UK.

[@marktime9235]

"Suburban heartlands".... Guilford! Guilford is Surrey heartlands, about 30 miles away from Suburbia. Are you having a laugh Guardian??? Guilford is about as true blue as you could get ffs.

[@Clem_Fandango11]

I know....comedy...

[@skinnywizard103]

This is happening in Australia where all the traditional conservative strong holds are bleeding votes.

[@puertodesuerte415]

The challenge for the middle class who now run the Labour party is how to get working class folk to stop voting against their interest

[@peteradaniel]

John macdonald and Jeremy Corbyn aren’t anywhere near as middle class as Blair and brown were.

[@martyfeldman3269]

Alex Daniel...But still very middle class non the less.

[@Sara-ld6nh]

Star Constellation and the Tories do? Haha what a joke

[@peteradaniel]

Marty Feldman probably Jeremy Corbyn but definitely not John McDonnell. His dad was a bus driver. My dad was a bus driver and my mum was a nurse. I definitely didn’t have a middle class upbringing. Both my parents were union members. Urban working class is my back ground and I’d say John McDonnell is exactly the same. I’d say the same of Richard Burgon and Diane Abbott who were both the first in their families to go to university.

[@puertodesuerte415]

@@peteradaniel That's fairly middle class albeit lower middle class. Middle class is anyone who can afford to have savings or a mortgage since working class people spend like 99% of their income so can't save

[@jorgejohnson451]

It’d be funny if he asked the people in the tents and they all answered “conservative all the way” and smiled, “Jacob Rees-Mogg. He’s our guy!”

[@mattiemclean9882]

no it wouldn't

[@alloutofbubblegum9223]

Remain Lib Dem voters: “we’re not angry”. Why would they be? Brexit hasn’t happened and isn’t likely to in any meaningful way.

[@tonygray7804]

Quantum physics guy for PM...

[@K8Nena9]

The guy studying Quantum physics is voting Labour. This highly intelligent man has a soul and common sense.

[@Verdis80]

I despair - the man reliant on foodbanks thinking Brexit is the most important issue of the day and the reason why he is not voting for parties that want to help him... all because Brexit is in the news a lot, so it must be important... John just laughs and doesn't reflect on this at all...someone please help this man...

[@danieloliver4558]

If we left on day 1 he would probably now have a house

[@karlawells7720]

...and a unicorn.

[@knockitoffhudson3470]

Parties that want to help him? Where they at?

[@Verdis80]

@@joeanderson7316 What's that got to do with anything?

[@kiray99]

“Half the country voted remain and we don’t often hear from them” 😂😂😂😂

[@AA-pk6fo]

i know i died ahaha.most hilarous comment i'd heard in ages

[@harrymmalexander4630]

I know, all you ever hear is from the remainers

[@jmmypaddy]

I really enjoy this series but I'm starting to feel a since of missing in these interviews. I want to know why the person who is completely at the bottom financially is more willing to ignore the social policy of Labour Party so he can have his Brexit. We get some insight but not enough to get a real understanding.

[@jonb12321]

This type of stuff is very simplistic. I was living rough at 16 in the post-industrial north of England when there was less stuff (including food) around than now. I remember how everyone used to grab food from the ECC surplus food handouts (an earlier iteration of food banks - guess what, if free food is available, many people will take it); and I lived in bedsits across the north and London while working as an unskilled labourer. Guess what, I've never voted Labour. The (old) Left primarily sees things in material terms (the new 'progressive' Left being consumed by victim-oppressor narratives based on race, gender etc.). But I feel questions of social psychology - identity, social coherence, individual resilience - are far more pertinent. And stats have shown that people on both the Remain/Leave side would take a serious personal financial hit in support of their position.

[@jmmypaddy]

jonb12321 I do not agree on the micro perspective of individuals than broader institutions, especially identity, I don’t see how that fits in a construcive way. However, that isn’t to say I’m just going to rule it out entirely and things like your ideals with your history in longer form would be more relevent. I feel asking someone randomly on the street is going to only get a less thought out answer and likely regress to slogans.

[@hugebrown36]

@@jonb12321 Now this is by far the best post, Well said!

[@oldschoolcockneylover8138]

If ur confused just call him far right then u won't have too worry.

[@knockitoffhudson3470]

Because being poor in 21st century Britain is kinda chill

[@johnfoster1580]

People in Guildford are affluent, they'll only vote parties who are sure to preserve their economic advantage.

[@pola5392]

"You know what I say? HA HA!"

[@irockluculent961]

1:12 We're seeing a similar phenomenon in the States; i.e., people who had thought themselves comfortable with essentially neoliberal policies and politicians now being made so uncomfortable by escalating inequality that they have been forced to acknowledge the need for more socialist policies.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

food banks in Guildford! I was brought up in a working class part of London. Nobody was rich, but everybody worked for a wage that could feed themselves and their famillies. How far we have fallen as a country.

[@danielpertile5255]

This video just shows the problems of a representative democracy.... its not very "representative" Ok ill leave

[@alangraves9151]

So they want to give all the money to the EU what about 17 . 5 million I no we will forget about them

[@larsvision122]

Wonderful video John! If I had to predict, I think the Conservatives will hold Guildford because Milton, the Lib Dems and Labour will split the Remain vote.

[@fungibu7184]

Big up the quantum physics guy! Well said!

[@romakhan9802]

Guy at 7.50 ...proper ledge. Well sad lad 👏👏👏

[@bartram33]

The last chap visits food banks twice a week for the last 2 years, yet he’s going to vote Tory!

[@sephus99]

He's going partly for the company which means, weird as it may seem, he might not want a party that totally eradicates the need for the food bank. A lack of communal gathering within local communities seems to be one of our country's major social problems and it's not really at the forefront of any party's thinking.

[@hauskalainen]

The subtitles on the TV below the picture of Boris Johnson...toxic and pointless.... says it all really

[@RightNowIGuess]

I'm an African immigrant. Unless you want the UK to resemble what we ran away from, vote Tory.

[@joeypetes7936]

Why is he so respectful to everyone saying they are voting Lib Dem or Tory and mocks the guy who talks with passion and sincerity about why he wants to vote labour?

[@NickMusselle]

unbelievable, he uses food banks but wants to vote for the Brexit party or tories, has he lost his mind?

[@em-or7qc]

2 words! 'Sun reader'

[@Victoria_2005]

What I have never understood is: why would anyone vote against their own self-interests & this is a prime example of that man volunteering in that food bank. He honestly makes no sense to me, whatsoever. The Tories & BP don't give two flying tosses for his plight, but yet he's going to vote for one of them #JesusWept

[@garyredmond6614]

If remain won in 2016 we wouldn't be talking about leave remain voters today.

[@maryamali3347]

Just because someone is white and has blonde hair and is middle age doesn't make them rich or posh. The most rich are in london and sorry to burst your bubble 90% of those millionaires are foreigners and immigrants :-))

[@dewijones92]

we need more people like that physics PHD student. Smart guy

[@Rachel_hikes_the_PCT]

Dewi Jones not smart, just going through an existential crisis haha

[@MRJDXTRA]

@@Rachel_hikes_the_PCT real talk

[@michaelhunt8419]

It's quite easy to understand. The next election will be totally about Brexit and people will vote for the party that represents their position on Brexit. You will get working class people voting Tory for the first time in their lives and Tories voting Liberal to stop Brexit and Corbyn.

[@malligrub]

It's very interesting to see the disconnect between what even quite affluent but generous people believe in their personal life and their electoral choices favouring neo-lib centrists that lead to the ongoing austerity society, corporate tax evasion, climate complacency and the wrongly held belief that immigration is to blame for all of the above.

[@godlike5178]

If this newspaper really wanted to help defeat Brexit, it would support labour more. Lib Dems are taking votes from labour and not as much from the Tories... Labour could win and could unite most of the country again

[@nemosays2258]

He lost me when he said we don't often hear from remainers!

[@punictunic]

Stayed Tory. My beautiful hometown #26,317. Labour lost it's heartlands.

[@dannyfeller7034]

Must admit I really really fear for this country if Jeremy Corbyn gets into power. Furthermore as a liberal, every time I look at the guardian I see it move more and more left of centre and I think that is a real shame.

[@capt.lovestarii2752]

Love this no-frills grassroots journalism and John's incisive and sometimes funny observations.

[@mattiemclean9882]

he used to be a journalist for the NME ... he's lucky to have a job now there's nothing to write about in music!

[@monkeyman321]

I loved the PhD student speech

[@TravelWithBradley]

'' I always have '' that's all.

[@calzonie5763]

Corbyn is the only one who actually cares, Boris is a clown

[@timcomley3241]

The only party with a plan is Labour....where have you been living pal.

[@katielouise3790]

Tim Comley with his eyes open unlike you obviously

[@timcomley3241]

@@katielouise3790 marvellous scenes on Thursday night xmas come early. Highlight for Shami's face :)