Labour’s Red Wall: the places that will decide the election | Anywhere but Westminster

John Harris and John Domokos continue their election road trip through crucial seats that have traditionally been loyal to Labour, but where a majority voted leave and the Tories are now encroaching.
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What they find defies the usual political cliches: people desperately want change, but there’s a deepening mistrust of national politics, whether red or blue
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#AnywhereButWestminster #RedWall #Labour #Politics #UK #conservatives

[@lizhang9898]

it blows my mind that a working young man doesn't know what a trade union is.

[@lizhang9898]

@YoshiPeach Mario exactly

[@jimharris6389]

It makes me want to cry

[@jimharris6389]

​@Wili Wds ok boomer

[@jimharris6389]

@Floopy Doopey ok boomer

[@deebest4202]

What's worse still he's a duty manager, you can't even go to him if you've got a problem with your work contract. Well you pay people peanuts...

[@elingles2854]

"We didn't leave the Labour Party, the Labour Party left us.

[@jamestodd1104]

Those who are ‘undecided’ are all voting Tory.

[@danielbateman6518]

@@moneylaunderer6313 literally proving his point by just tossing an insult at him rather than saying something constructive.

[@Desertmouth]

@pinkie perky okay boomer gammon

[@danielbateman6518]

@@moneylaunderer6313 it's also interesting you go for an insult based on skin colour

[@jackbeswick4662]

@@danielbateman6518 ok boomer

[@danielbateman6518]

@@jackbeswick4662 also doesn't mean a great deal to me since I'm 21

[@peterhiggins2928]

It seems the Tories have won by making people not care.

[@TheNotSoFakeNews]

Or labour has lost by failing to make people care.

[@Badhat66]

We do care we Don't want Corbyn

[@jasondevon481]

No. Labour will lose and it is their own fault for abandoning their voters outside of London. Don't take my word for it, watch the election!

[@ultimateblaze23]

@@jasondevon481 Sorry, are labour's policies specific to London? I must have missed that part.

[@forza223bowe5]

Labour will not win elections, they are too far left

[@Fluxquark]

Works in social care, knows that the Tories have cut funding massively, still won't vote Labour. FFS what is going on in that man's brain?

[@مرحبابك-ض1ن]

Arrogance. Sheer Arrogance. I've seen a few people like this, particularly in the West Midlands. I really don't understand it as Brummies & people from around those ends are some of the nicest people you'll meet. But occasionally you see this odd stupidity & arrogance come through on issues like this and I don't really get it either.

[@tomasburns6128]

مرحبا بك and my boi Corbyn is a scumbag

[@مرحبابك-ض1ن]

@@tomasburns6128 انتوا تاخدوا بالجزمة عاملين زي السيساوية

[@spacered949]

He isn’t making his vote based on one issue despite it being close to his heart

[@stevenamoah9849]

Cuz the media says its not the right thing to do... Who owns the media....

[@ch3nz3n]

So how did that "Red Wall" work out for ya? 12/13/19

[@sensibledriver933]

Like a foot high picket fence.

[@InsideOutInkDemon]

don't know what you've got til it's gone

[@jean-maxmansfeld8058]

As depressing as I always find these videos to be, they are great pieces of journalism and give interesting insights. Kudos guardian

:D

[@adscri]

Jean-Max Mansfeld Found this one to be back on track, thankfully.

[@connorcook6171]

Well, what can you expect from leftist journalism...its *always* alarmist doom and gloom. People are sick to the teeth of it, hence why Corbyn is polling so low!

[@connorcook6171]

@ Their whole agenda is cognitive dissonance, LOL. How anyone can take these people seriously enough to vote for, is beyond any intelligent person.

[@sevenscounty409]

Fills me with disappear that the labour party machinery is not actually doing this glorious work to gain an insight on what is ailing the labour party

[@johnnyfuckeyes4068]

Maybe it's not the working class ,maybe it's labour who's changed

[@RealLimerickman]

Ssshhhh. You make the bullies in the Labour party leadership cry. They will need to find their safe space..crayons and fluffy teddy bears...to get away from facts that you provides.

[@coolbreez773]

"We can always get one half of the poor to turn against the other half"...

[@redghost6386]

You have to bring another group that have different values into the country first.

[@ChrisRedfield--]

Proven concept, read: Italian diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli is best known for writing The Prince, a handbook for unscrupulous politicians that inspired the term "Machiavellian" and established its author as the "father of modern political theory."

[@ChrisRedfield--]

@@redghost6386 are you stupid?

[@owenthompson5214]

The working class and the under class are completely different

[@AndrewSmith-sh8xe]

That woman from Grimsby was spot on. "It's about pride, people need to be involved". That is the message Labour need to hear. It's great to invest in public services, but that investment needs to empower local communities, not centralised state bureaucracies.

[@zeberdee1972]

Yes finally some sense , you have looked at why the Public have gone the way with the vote . Instead like most on this comment section that just label the General Public " stupid " etc .

[@WarMomPT]

What a coincidence, that's actually what they're offering; for a lot of it like public transport, the funds aren't a nationalised singular entity, it goes to individual councils to do with as they will.

[@mcooley88]

@@zeberdee1972 I'd label anyone that willfully votes in the architects of their own misery for another 5 years as a bit dull on the old braincells to be honest.

[@Molfish]

These people haven’t left labour - the Labour Party has left the people

[@HS-nf7tf]

The film is filled with people complaining about the lack of investment and austerity but won't vote for a party that is specifically campaigning on reversing those Tory policies of austerity and lack of investment. Has the North been completely gaslighted? I ask that sincerely.

[@TheCasualObservers]

Yes

[@joecramp2987]

Yeah it seems most of the country has been gaslighted

[@connorcook6171]

No, they just hate the labour party, because you're the party of immigrants and LGBT, not of the many English folk.

[@jangomoonstomp]

@@connorcook6171 and you're a bigot, proud of yourself?

[@connorcook6171]

@@jangomoonstomp Whatever you say. Nobody takes you leftists seriously, anymore. You've had your time and failed!

[@rebekahfowler2958]

I find this so disappointing. I have no hope for this country

[@jimgoodwin6294]

Naaaa, we're a great country capable of anything - just because Labour says everything is rubbish doesn't make it true...

[@goodyeoman4534]

The country will crawl on, but the nation fought for in the Second World War is long-gone. State debt, private debt, mass immigration, dumbed-down society and break up of private family life has seen to that.

[@chokinonashes61]

@pinkie perky You are a Tory.

[@petebondurant58]

You should move to France.

[@rebekahfowler2958]

Hans Hummer what an offer what a man. How noble of you. Think I'll pass. You definitely wouldn't be up to the task of cheering me up. Don't need more tossers in my life.

[@DahliaRich]

Austerity has crushed spirits to the point where people have given up on trying to oppose the Tory government - the unfortunate thing is the opposite is what is needed now more than ever. This may have unwittingly been the Tory's greatest political machination.

[@tomasburns6128]

Paul Judkins you’re absolutely right mate. The left never want to talk about the harms of years of unrestricted mass migration. Utterly sickening, our ppl are so easily fed the PR that every migrant is a high payed worker.. I call BS. Mr Abdul Abu Akbar next door cares far more about his next benefit payout and his forever pregnant wife over getting a job.

[@nolelox]

@Eiki skogr You're not wrong

[@nolelox]

Yeah austerity was bad but it didn't make people poorer or crush their spirit. I put it to you Brexit, the opposition parties and the amount of time crushed spirit. Corbyn could have voted for Brexit but instead, kept it on the table much to the cost of those he champions. Now he's mugging off Labour leave voters with *Remain OR REMAIN*

[@maxpowerii7368]

Nope not austerity or anything to do with the Tories. It is Labour and their betrayal of the leave voting heartlands with their Brexit neutral policy and appeasement of remainers in the party. Plus support for mass immigration and post-modern identity politics does not help their case. Most people I know living in the heartlands wouldn’t dream of voting Labour again given how the party has turned out. Brexit Party looks to do very well out of it.

[@daveruda]

So your defense of the rightwing assault on the public boils down to racism. You just hate foreginers...

[@Gilly9784]

It's great reading these comments after the election 😂

[@olliefolayan3246]

The thing you said about noise at the end is really the problem for Labour. These people all articulate a need for the kind of change that Labour is offering but they either have the airwaves filled with negatives noise and therefore cant hear Labour's voice and even when they do they have been preconditioned by the media narrative to disbelieve it. Very depressing.

[@britopia1341]

Noise? It’s got nothing to do with noise. The Labour Party are they’re own worst enemy. If their policy was to halt mass immigration for the next 5 years they would win. But they’ll never do it.

[@stubru16]

Ollie Folayan I don’t know where you live but it’s not been easy up north, you have to remember London and south east stoke so much and raped the north of its manufacturing, but the Tory’s and southerners are blaming the EU and I’m afraid people up here still believe a countrymen because Boris isn’t foreign

[@sevenscounty409]

How about the Rightwing tabloids writing in baby language targeting these white working class people?

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

@@sevenscounty409 That's the noise.

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

@ Hardly.

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

It's terrifying to see how many people just get their information from tabloids.

[@391jamie]

What's your point? That you're better than these people because you read the Guardian? That's exactly the kind of snobby attitude that's turned so many ordinary working class people off the modern Labour party.

oh yes, those awful plebs!

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

@ Again, your words, not mine.

[@knockitoffhudson]

My dad reads the sun, it's nowhere near as degenerate as the guardian.

[@roloemery123]

Even worse when people get their info primarily off Facebook

[@michellepotter4833]

John Harris, unlike certain other Guardian journalists, actually gets outside London and speaks to constituents, rather than just making assumptions and being condescending.

[@michaeladgo]

The Tragic thing is the right wing press

[@benusmaximus3601]

The right wing press are there to counterbalance left wing academia - it all balances out and creates a level playing field...

[@michaelheeheejackson7255]

@ Right. So "crushing the saboteurs" is just right of Mao

[@funbarsolaris2822]

@pinkie perky Voting Lib Dem is a sure fire way to get a hard brexit in most seats. They have already got in serious trouble for suggesting tactical voting in areas where the Tories have 25,679 votes Labour have 25,326 and the Lib Dems have.... 3,012. What use is tactically voting Lib Dem there?? VOTE LABOUR FOR A 2ND REFERENDUM AND AN END TO THE TORY NIGHTMARE

[@jimgoodwin6294]

I'm afraid democracy must prevail - no if nor buts.....

[@michaeladgo]

Jim Goodwin a democracy is not a democracy if it’s built on lies

[@TheSpoovy]

8:12 You say the Labour vote has softened because the "culture of the place has changed". This is very telling. Not only are you wrong, but the guy you'd just spoken to had told you that. He said it was because of Labour's policy changes that he was no longer a Labour voter. But you chose to ignore that and put your preferred spin on it. Labour abandoned the working classes, not the other way around, and it's amazing to me that people still can't see that. Blaming the Tories for everything is pathetic. Learn from the blue Labour movement or the party is dead.

[@michaelmorrison8714]

exactly blue labour is traditional labour. the party was highjacked by hipsters.

[@stevevassallo4323]

With a few exceptions, I see only ignorance, apathy and obesity. Which, if you think about it, is exactly where the people in power want you to be.

[@stevevassallo4323]

@RJ rs iekekd The video was great but the prospects are grim.

[@stevevassallo4323]

@intempify ???

[@stevevassallo4323]

@Joe Box Yeah, there’s the ignorance part right there. Well done.

[@391jamie]

Is it any wonder so many working class people have turned their backs on Labour when they get vilified as thick, bigoted, ignorant plebs by the very same metropolitan trendies who claim to speak on their behalf?

[@vinceiswatchingyou]

The neoliberal plan was a success

[@BarryWaterlow]

*The apathy and levels of ignorance are frightening. It's like watching STARK ADDER*

[@DFandV]

Not wanting to sound rude but it has got to do with education or no care of politics or their environment really.

[@leetshots]

Haha it's like you are out of touch with the working class. Awesome.

[@MyName-cw4yr]

@Cowardly Custard sure thing my russian bot person.

[@MyName-cw4yr]

@Cowardly Custard Путин говорит привет ;)

[@MyName-cw4yr]

@Cowardly Custard awww aren't you sweet.

[@crustyoldfart]

A North-American Indian once told me a simple fact : " You can't make money where there is no money ". And that's the great truism of The North. In former times the country's wealth was created in the North by a variety of industries, and the profits were spent in the South-East, Home Counties bubble. Now the industries have gone, but the people have not. The people of the Southern bubble can now live on the proceeds of the manipulation of credit, the North is left with little and nobody seems to care. " England, whose won't it was to conquer others hath made a shameless conquest of itself ". On a more optimistic note perhaps we can reflect that historically the British Isles have always been a turmoil of warring tribes. Nowadays you don't dress up and put on warpaint, but the basic conflicts apparently are still there. Maybe you'd all be best advised to move on to greener pastures.

[@crustyoldfart]

@John Buffalo I am 97 I'm not sure what you are disagreeing with. Was it the advice to seek greener pastures ? That's what I did over fifty years ago when I moved to Canada. In North America engineers such as myself are respected as professionals; so are technologists, medical practitioners, nurses and so on..... and are considerably better paid - unlike in the UK where we are not respected to anything like the same degree. I hardly think your disagreement can be about my description of the differences between North and South, since your remarks confirm what I was saying in every respect. I'm happy for you in that you consider yourself " upper middle class ". I'm no longer sure that I understand what that means anymore, although the concept was current back in the mid XX century as I recall. Does your self-styled status derive from your former profession I wonder, or is it based on the amount of disposable income you had at one time and might continue to enjoy. In general my remarks were coloured by a knowledge of the history and economics of my native Cumberland as it then was. Much of the local means of production was in the hands of the local Earl. The most famous one - was known as the " Yellow Earl ", for his fondness for riding about in a yellow horse-drawn landau. Not that we saw a lot of him, since he spent the money we " blue collars ", as you would have it, accumulated for him, toiling on the land or sweating and sometimes dying in the mines, on his sporting life mostly in the Home Counties. It was always rumoured that he was popular with Edward VIII, due to his success in acting as a procurer for the King.

[@crustyoldfart]

That should have read Edward VII of course: Edward VIiI was generally successful acting on his own initiative.

[@thefinalwhistle1623]

@John Buffalo I am 97 a teacher who thinks he 'gave' the north jobs.

[@paultaylor2964]

I have been abroad for 39 years now. The picture I see of the land I grew up in is alarming. What on earth lies ahead. How will this end up. Brexit or otherwise. Poverty and despair are wide spread.

[@maxcuthbert100]

I've been gone since '88.Came back for six years in '99, then left again when it seemed the writing was really on the wall('05). I coulddn't have imagined the current shitshow in display here though.Horrifying.

[@AH-iu1cw]

We left in 2018 and won't go back, I keep watching and reading though, it's like a slow car crash. Anyone with a brain and aspirations needs to.get out of there

[@celticwarrior3354]

@@AH-iu1cw no we will stand and fight to put it right , and out of curiosity what country did you move to?

[@celticwarrior3354]

@@maxcuthbert100 where are you now ?

[@jimgoodwin6294]

I remember the 60's where there were a lot of families with kids (they always seem to have lots of kids) walked round in rags. That was poverty....... Its no where near as bad now...... Another labour lie....

[@TG-kc9ue]

This is utterly heartbreaking

[@maxcuthbert100]

Yes,because we all know it's a bit too close to the bone.

[@morp904]

Labour needs a new leader. thats all

[@TG-kc9ue]

@shaun king ?

[@goodyeoman4534]

What is? That Labour are finished or that Britain is so dumbed-down it thinks 'Boris' Johnson is a worthy leader?

[@libertyprime69]

@@morp904 True

[@DidntKnowWhatToPut1]

People want things to get better but won't vote for it. Imagine the country we could have if everyone who feels strongly about something actully put those beliefs into a vote

[@End-Result]

Couldn’t agree more It’s saddening but it’s also makes me extremely mad with these people

[@littletraveller5428]

No one has faith in real change. It only takes catastrophe to incite real change.

[@webz3589]

Well we did with brexit and the remoaners in the political parties and the press have tried their hardest to stop that vote.

[@thethirdman2135]

Corbyn will help no one by bankrupting the country

[@DidntKnowWhatToPut1]

@@thethirdman2135 What exactly in the Labour manifesto is going to bankrupt the UK?

[@whorhythmic]

this series never disappoints, so insightful

[@usman7207]

[@mohsinrao4334]

So a social worker appalled at Tory inflicted austerity doesnt know who to vote for. FFS. The UK deserves what is coming to it.

[@jangomoonstomp]

@ social workers do, also poliicians, the police, the judiciary, basically anyone with a brain 🙄

[@funbarsolaris2822]

@pinkie perky Voting Lib Dem will grant a Tory majority in most seats. The only message you'l be sending is a hard brexit and 5 more years of austerity

[@Iamtilersscreeminganger]

Tory inflicted austerity, brought to you by the Labour Party spending all the money and selling all the precious metals reserves.

[@jimgoodwin6294]

@@jangomoonstomp The Police have brains......? Who knew.....

[@jangomoonstomp]

@@jimgoodwin6294 some do, some don't, like the populace at large 🤔

[@eoghan.5003]

This is the overwhelming success of the neoliberal project. Those who are in the most dire need of trade unions, the Labour party and so on have been conditioned to stand by hopelessly as their communities are destroyed.

[@lx1714]

neoliberal project, aka the EU?

[@eoghan.5003]

@@lx1714 I was not referring specifically to the EU - neoliberalism in the UK was brought in by Thatcher, not the EU - though the institutions of the EU have been pursuing a neoliberal project.

[@lx1714]

@@eoghan.5003 Fair enough. I consider it a two way street though. The European Union is somehow viewed by many as left wing. It is as neoliberal as they come haha Benn saw it!

[@uktravel8341]

"to stand by hopelessly as their communities are destroyed." Actually they are all free to join the Labour Party, Greens, trade unions etc who will do something to help their communities. But the vast majority don't bother. A large minority (or in some cases a majority) don't even bother to vote. They have no-one to blame but themselves.

[@michaelmorrison8714]

So labour abandons the working class by promoting mass migration (which 75% of the UK are against) then they wonder why they can't get working class votes. wow not a lot of self awareness. Look no further then how blue labour and Paul Embery were treated as symbolic on why you lost your working class heartland. You made your bed............................personally I won't shed a tear for you.

[@thefinalwhistle1623]

the Tories have had control of migration for most of the period it occurred

[@michaelmorrison8714]

While labour hipsters in london shout from every rooftop how wonderful mass migration is. At least anybody supporting brexit is (at least in theory) saying its a problem, not something wonderful. But I agree, in all likelyhood big business is poised to make sure mass migration continues under Boris. i thought voting brexit was the ideal.

[@kingofracism]

@@thefinalwhistle1623 true, Tories are in it for the money from huge building companies. Labour are in it for a whole other reason

[@thomasb8525]

I found this quite moving. There's something heartbreaking about people at humanity's best feeling apathetic and disillusioned. Every time a politician has ever or ever does tell a lie, it is these people's trust they hurt.

[@kimwarburton8490]

@ tory brexit just makes us more vulnerable. Read pg 48 of manifesto Yeah they want to take back control FROM US

[@jimgoodwin6294]

@@kimwarburton8490 So the EU taking our armed forces in a couple of years makes us safer then?

[@kimwarburton8490]

@@jimgoodwin6294 1 thatll only happen if uk agrees to go closer to eu than we already are (not guna happen too much leave sentiment) 2 its no different to nato, except wont have usa/trump acting all gangsta for protection money. 3 bojo just gave away half our forces so yeah theres that xD

[@jimgoodwin6294]

@@kimwarburton8490 Sorry, that made no sense......

[@kimwarburton8490]

@@jimgoodwin6294 i guess u didnt follow the nato summit

[@resisthouse]

These shorts are brilliant, but depressing AF

don't worry, its mainly nonsense

[@amanred9337]

It's actually less depressing than I would have thought. There were still quite a few people here saying they were going to vote Labour as well as people who were confused. But the swing to the Tories and is not actually that visible here which is comforting.

[@water9baby972]

Lmao right

[@petebondurant58]

@@amanred9337 This comment hasn't held up well.

[@amanred9337]

@@petebondurant58 True. What can In say? I thought the Tories could win but I really did not see THIS coming. I understand the leave vote essentially.

[@landlord5552]

Brexit or not, UK seems doomed anyway.

[@Chris-ln6so]

I love how the didn’t find all that many Tory votes (or at least lots of undecideds), yet 14 million votes later...

[@ddraigairhead4187]

The majority of people voting conservative won’t admit publicly

[@whynot217]

At points he said he was looking for Labour voters because he couldn’t find any. He said he couldn’t find anyone in a square who voted Labour. I don’t think you were listening to the video.

[@JW-if3hk]

What red wall? Certainly can't see one on the 2019 map

[@libertyprime69]

ikr?

[@maltesephil]

6:07 cashmere coat and fur hat, way to represent the people of Wolverhampton their luv

[@lisabennett3357]

a smell of petroleum pervades throughout its not about what your wear and where you come from it’s about what you stand for and who your serve

[@Fattimithy]

I thought exactly the same thing. What a way to identify with your electorate!

[@mattmatthews8993]

I wish you had asked the guy at 1:53 why he wasn’t voting Labour, did he not realise that Labour are backing a second referendum

[@mattmatthews8993]

Floopy Doopey no, he said that Labour don’t oppose the government, a phrase usually used by remainers

[@AlexanderKojen]

@Floopy Doopey Your democracy is a representative democracy.

[@phobiandarkmoon]

Labour's position on Brexit, especially as relates to Corbyn, has been very muddled up to this point.

[@clarkeysam]

@Floopy Doopey if he supports democracy then he should be pro second referendum. 16m voted to remain, only a couple of hundred have voted for May's deal (rebranded as Johnson's deal).

[@clarkeysam]

@Floopy Doopey the result wasn't ignored, art 50 was triggered! The only people who think it was ignored are those stupid enough to think we could have left quickly. So just to be clear, you're pro democracy but anti letting the public decide?

[@peter9162]

My grandad, who has voted Labour his entire life, used to complain about Blair. He said he was "more Tory than the Tories." I grew up thinking that Labour's weakening position stemmed from a lack of real opposition to what the Tories stand for. Now with Corbyn there is a prime ministerial candidate who actually represents something drastically different to New Labour under Blair. Yet everyone is flocking back to the centre right of politics. Why?

[@person.X.]

I have great respect for the pair of you going out and actually trying to make the effort to speak to people and be broadminded. You seem to think about what you have seen and heard rather than just get stuck in some self justifying ideological rut.

[@ronpeel1878]

Lets cut to the chase. BREXIT and the unwillingness to honour the referedum was a major factor. You can't spin a line that 'the people didn' t vote to be poorer' that they had ' changed their minds', that there was 'voter's regret'. If you say these kind of thing, you know you are spinning a line. Just because people speak with broad Black Country and Staffordshire accents, doesn't mean that they are thick. LABOUR MEMBERs of parliament and the labout party deserve what they got.

[@Philiptanzer]

That woman running the fashion show was brilliant, she is totally right. It is about pride and having the freedom to do these things for your own community, a very conservative position. We should endeavour to reduce central government and let the local communities steer their way. You could see the benefit working on that project to bring life to her community had, she appeared to be the happiest person in this video. We need to empower women like her and not just demand central government take control, because that breaks community relations and strips the local people of pride. A bit of pride in ourselves and our country will get us through, but you won't find that with Labour.

[@yoniwolf92]

One of the many issues that ive observed is young people are so overworked and underpaid, and under organised that they don't engage with complex information on policies etc and they end up having no rights or ability to know how to improve their circumstances. Add the Murdoch press and Facebook to that terrible predicament and here we are.

[@sastrugi4471]

And Labour hasn't remotely broken through in the new age. That's part of it.

[@yoniwolf92]

@@sastrugi4471 yep, very true they're not connecting with a really obvious base of young struggling people (and all struggling people)

[@yoniwolf92]

@ not relatively speaking historically, relatively speaking compared to current house prices/living expenses

[@Plumduff3303]

I rate this as absolutely top notch journalism

[@chrisconway8406]

Just voted Conservative for the first time in my life i will never back Corbyn cant stand the guy.

[@Badhat66]

Does that labour MP not think how ironic that 1 the two young bloke had no clue who she was, and two the comment she made about politicians making false claims about promising this and that , all Corbyn and he's Labour Party have done is offer free stuff nothing's free , why can't she have some honesty and say to those two blokes I am not interested in you , I am just hoping to keep my job F Labour why Corbyn and he's cronies are leading the party

[@battles423]

IT’s November 2022. The British People are suffering with the worst economic crisis since WW2. Welcome to Brexit

[@djphineart]

People in ‘left-behind towns’ voted labour for years and years. My home town (Hull) has been left behind time and time again - even when we had the second in command of a labour government representing us - they did nothing at all for the city except a city of culture party for the guardianistas . Labour always say they will do XYZ and deliver jack...all

[@celticwarrior3354]

I'm from hull mate 👍 I'm backing brexit party 👌

[@randymarsh3636]

@playlists that's your response 🤦‍♂️

[@djphineart]

playlists - I am getting charged already I have paid hundreds of thousands in tax. Been working since 16 and hardly taken anything from the system. Mum and dad worked too again, paid tax all their lives taken nowt out of the system except dentistry...

[@henridobbs2423]

Ask someone why they’re voting Conservative and I bet they’ll tell you something negative about Jeremy Corbyn rather than a positive Tory Policy.

[@BNJT]

Yeah but it's the same with Brexit. Neither of the parties campaigned on the positives of EU Membership (there are many). It was project fear on both sides.

[@joehynes5929]

very true and worse still the negative will have been got from the sun. and total nonsense but then when has that ever mattered. the media really has done a number on Corbyn and it has worked.

[@goodyeoman4534]

That's it. People voting out of fear from what they don't want rather than positively for something they do. I am socially conservative but would not vote for Johnson in a million years. At least Corbyn is (mostly) upfront about his views. Besides his shiftiness over the EU, obviously.

[@goodyeoman4534]

@@BNJT Not strictly true. The Leave campaign was palpably more positive with its arguments. Reclaim fishing waters, take back sovereignty etc.Whether you agree or not with the policies, Remain was far more negative and scaremongering.

[@ChicagoTurtle1]

Shockingly sad. And people still want to let the same problems continue.

[@MrRooibos123]

Wolverhampton is really struggling unfortunately. The people are really nice and warm, but unfortunately we have a reputation for being stupid.

[@MrRooibos123]

@@Irishtradchannel yeah with Thornberry calling us all stupid. It's ridiculous.

[@talboyovGY]

Come back to Labour he says but Labour need to come back to being Labour because they have lost the plot

[@RealLimerickman]

That what feminism have done to all Leftist parties.

[@harrimi]

Once again a brilliant insight to the real issues of the country.

[@petebondurant58]

Not really, as it turned out.

[@mum2jka]

And what paper do you read? The Sun...says everything.

and you're comment says everything about why Labour is haemorrhaging votes

[@TristanBanks]

@ Labour isn't losing votes mate. Go back to your spoon fed lies from Mr Murdoch and Co...

[@capt.lovestarii2752]

​@ You spell haemorrhaging correctly, but get the pronoun wrong?

[@skillbopster]

If the guardian is so great, how come the working class have no interest in it?

[@user-mn3pb7mj9i]

@@chrisf1600 Irony is lost on these people. They live in an echo chamber and only talk to/listen/read things which reinforce their opinions

[@blazzz13]

2:07: "What about the opposition"? "Is that what you call opposition?"' 🤣🤣🤣 Despite his voter apathy atleast he isn't going one further and voting against his own interests by voting Tory.

[@jangomoonstomp]

@Paul Judkins austerity has failed, yet the Tory party plough on regardless, this is economically understood to be true, However, the rich have become immensely richer because of it, so there we are, the populace have been conned, and continue to be so thanks to the billionaire owned media

[@kittynakamoto2449]

Paul Judkins ‘labour would be bad for everyone’ another person parroting tabloid rumours, I guarantee you you have no understanding of economics yet here you are copying claims you have not critically thought over. If not, prove me wrong and elaborate?

[@PhilMann]

Not just less noise but fewer echo chambers. This was a great film, thought provoking.

[@fabianallnutt4783]

Labour messed up with Brexit, end of. Those that voted Labour and Leave feel betrayed.

[@jeremiemarion3966]

Because the question wasn't about the EU it was about do you want the violence of austerity continue or not. EU was not responsible of this violence especially when you got your own currency the responsibles were New Labour and the Tories. So basically the British people answered right to the wrong question. You'll make your way like you did in the past i'm pretty sure. I'm so surprised about the UK politics though because the EU is basically your "success" no political integration, no cultural integration. Only market, market and more market.

[@fabianallnutt4783]

@@jeremiemarion3966 the EU success is cheap labour and tax avoidance for multinational corporations at the expense of Europeans.

[@leecolburn7849]

When he sat in his car and said Labour is the party of social justice... Yeah, mate. That’s what people are sick of and why people won’t vote for Labour

[@zeberdee1972]

I love the way the view of the General Public is considered " Quick fire and superficial " , that tells you all you need to know about politics and politicians .

[@Barnet310]

I feel that if UK could ever actually come back together again, it will be long after it’s completely fallen apart

[@SirAmicVarze]

It's pointless to get all soppy about people trying to improve things locally if they'll still vote for a party that'll continue to make things worse nationally.

[@JonathanBarnes]

That is why we must vote Conservative or Brexit and follow the will of the people not the morally superior ruling class- especially Sminson and Corbyn?

[@infrasleep]

Pompous drivel These places have had labour councils since the year dot and numerous labour governments in between and STILL they are impoverished and the ONLY thing labour do is whinge about the poverty. At long last people are twigging that beyond self righteous pious priggery and blaming everyone bar themselves, labour have actually done sweet FA about it and never ever will do anything about it-presumably as they'd have nothing to whinge about.

[@lukeclarke7167]

Cutting through the BS once more, top journalism. Labour definitely needs to tap into that self empowerment stuff within communities. We can be better!

[@lukeclarke7167]

Neil Mo ahh yes I stand corrected

[@daveruda]

@pinkie perky Lib dems that gave Tories free range to impose austerity?

[@MrMbisker]

All these people who won’t vote labour will regret it for a generation

[@maxcuthbert100]

Longer.

[@spacered949]

-won’t-

[@dmal4008]

The Tories are watching this and laughing, the amount of working class people who have been so easily convinced by the rich to go against their own interests is staggering.

[@thethirdman2135]

The labour parties mass immigration masterplan for future generations of labour voters is a disaster for low skilled British working class people

[@oliversmith4130]

The Guardian are clueless when it comes to working people

[@hollyexley]

Must be hard to remain neutral when interviewing people, complaining about things that are a top priority within Labour policies.

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

@Joe Box How come?

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

@Joe Box But economists agreed that their plan had economic merit and was feasible. Its published for all to see.

[@heliotropezzz333]

@Joe Box Have you read the Labour Manifesto? Thought not. If you don't take the opposition seriously and vote for change you're lost because there's no hope otherwise.

[@justininfrance]

@Joe Box And the big problem are fools like you who obviously believe everything they read from the Tory press.

[@knockitoffhudson]

I'm pretty sure labour's top priority is nationalising everything that isn't nailed down.

[@rhysrunsriot]

Another brilliant video - but they always end so abruptly haha - catches me off guard every time.

[@born2conform]

Thank you so much for doing these. Been watching for years. Really feels like my only insight into the country. I'm from a working class background in the south and now live in London which leaves me very disconnected from everything. Anywhere but Westminster is so useful. Please don't stop.

[@secularspectator]

7:08 maybe that's why no one is voting for labour...ever thought about that John?

[@peter9162]

It seems like traditional Labour voters are left only insofar that they favour wealth redistribution and public services. When it comes to social issues they are basically closer to the Tories.

[@secularspectator]

@@maximusg88 sad but true....kinda like sock account commentators 😜😂😂

[@testylefty8150]

Is this guy for real? Is it really THAT surprising that people's views can be nuanced and complex?

[@AxelSituation]

Let's just come right out and say it: " Tony Blair killed any trust in the party."

[@monkeymox2544]

Which makes no sense, given that the party has done a U-turn. And no matter how much you dislike Blair, and how much we might condemn him for the war, its undeniable that the UK was in a better place during his premiership. Of course, he completely ballsed up the opportunity to undo the damage from previous Tory governments at a time when it would have made great financial sense to do so, i.e. he should have re-regulated the banks while we were in a boom period, and if he had the crash might not have hit us so hard. But even so, at this point literally anything sounds better than the Tories, and I don't get how people can't see that. Its like they haven't noticed the last ten years.

@@monkeymox2544 does tory stand for VIC..TORY?

[@monkeymox2544]

@ Actually it derives from the Irish word for 'thief' or 'bandit'. Its been over 300 years since the term was coined, but its still appropriate.

[@monkeymox2544]

@ Yup, 99% certain that the etymology of Tory isn't either 'winner' or 'landslide winners'. I could be wrong though, you could always look it up.

[@nathanbeesley3353]

There was one striking thing about these vox pops and it squares with my experience of canvassing for Labour in a marginal in the West Mids - a total lack of enthusiasm for Boris Johnson.

[@ashyclaret]

Eh?lol

[@Captainnationalexpress247]

Everybody needs to vote for Jeremy Corbin of the Labour Party. This is very extremely important for the safety of our country. There's no time for games, hide and seek, and runaway depending cowards. Not even the test of confusion. This is the mater of the Country's Legacy and History of Life. My mission is to take the 1st leadership back where it's rightfully belongs and reunite the membership of the European Union to come in peace.

[@s1050]

Captain National Express Voted. JC4PM 🌹 He’s the ONLY choice to save this country

[@jamjam-v4q]

8:20 "He stopped voting Labor when he stopped being a coalminer, therefore Labors vote has weakened because the people have changed". An alternate reading would be that he stopped voting Labor when Labor changed, when Labor stopped representing the English patriotism that exists in the north and replaced it with gender quotas and jeremy corbyn.

[@shawndomenico5830]

As a labor guy from the States, I am watching brexit and the UK election in fascination. Every installment of this series reveals more depth than before. Thanks for going out and listening to people face-to-face - it is hard, unpredictable work.

[@ukwoodcarver]

RED WALL 😂

[@libertyprime69]

ikr?

[@BenFrewgoogle]

The absolute banter of John Harris. Mourns what he perceives as the decline of Labour but refuses to acknowledge the role he and his colleagues have played in the disillusion and disenfranchisement of the working class. John, I 'd love to talk to you about this, I really would.

[@sirierieott5882]

This is a rare & valuable piece of personal perspective on the 2019 election from the north of England. I find this film by John Harris a much needed patient, calm and gentle analysis of real people and their initial reticence then resigned reply of ‘I was Labour, now I don’t know’. Very illuminating if depressing vox pop on the prospects of left wing ambitions for working class voting intentions. Also- This presenter is fair and balanced but... The left’s general tendency to resort to verbal if not physical assault on anyone who ‘admits’ their intention to vote Tory or Brexit simply shuts all conversation down and closes all doors to convince otherwise.

[@Isaac-ny9kl]

Three defining words for this election: Austerity+privatization and locality. Years of Austerity and privatization from both Labour (Tony fuckin Blair, etc.) and the EU turned much of UK politics sideways and led to Brexit. It seems many Brits have lost any faith they had left in politics beyond their local communities, certainly massive council cuts haven't helped this. Now, the only ones they see listening to em and solving local problems are... themselves. The local communities. There is an age old argument that humanities defining state is localist self-governing anarchy, seems that the trust in the government or political parties is gone. This new era is defined by failures, broken promises, and burnt trust. Whats left? Where do people retreat? To the communities they know. The people they trust. Each other. Eh, solidarity ain't it? But not through any sort of political party or institutionalized trade union. Those relationships are gone. The people for the people is all that's left. Pray the fascists and racists do not take advantage. Pray the people stand strong for each other.

[@tap10lan]

Thank you John and John. Yours is a special genius - getting people of all (well, most) creeds to speak in a measured, sane way.

[@dasreich5126]

F Labour, Get Brexit Done, BackBoris.

[@justtheouch]

If the past three years have shown us anything, it's that the Conservatives cannot get Brexit through parliament. The only way to get Brexit done at this point is to vote Labour, who will get the people's support and complete the process in 6 months. Voting for the Conservatives is voting for years more delay and stalling to Brexit.

[@roadend78]

We call ourselves a rich developed nation but we have working poor and we have foodbanks we have homeless on a grand scale. 10 years of cruel Tory Austerity Corbyn has won my vote .

[@grahamt5924]

You really think labour would have done better!

[@roadend78]

@@grahamt5924 Yes

[@grahamt5924]

@Jo Bloggs You think labour could have just kept spending there way out of difficulty. Even with austerity the public debt is rising quite rapidly. We now spend 8% of tax revenue just to service the debt we are in. You are complaining about austerity and yet what do you think will happen when the debt reaches a point where no one wants to lend the UK money?

[@grahamt5924]

@@roadend78 how? You think they should have spent more or put up taxes?

[@goodyeoman4534]

There is no serious party to represent socially conservative views. The Tories have adopted Blair's policies, Labour have turned off their own supporters (workers), and the fringe parties have no significance. Without a competitive left-right political system we are likely to see more of the same. And the resentment builds. As usual, tribal voting will ensure nothing changes. Johnson will get a majority despite being a liberal, and people will complain when we are fed more of the same tripe. The only way to break the backs of the main parties is mass-abstention at the ballot box. But this simply won't happen.

[@gotcarter536]

insightful and humane. highlighting stories less heard. thanks.

[@lucasbridges8082]

Amazing journalism. Thank you!

[@Dane-ek5vn]

8% of labour mp are from working class background not the party for working class anymore

[@harmlessdrudge]

When a Guardianista meets the working class: total incomprehension.

[@leebrown352]

Honestly, as a Labour supporter, we better hope these young people turn up and vote and we can really hit home the pro's of a labour government and the damage a further tory government would do, otherwise we're in trouble. It's so sad and frustrating to see people saying they need labour's manifesto whilst saying there's no option available.

[@thethirdman2135]

Corbyn will help no one by bankrupting the country

[@Zahramasseyart]

honestly feels so hopeless right now

[@rmleighton1]

Tories dragged out Brexit and manage to pin it on Labour. It's Socialism or Barbarism. Once The City of London becomes the financial cesspool, Baberism wins. Love your show.

[@person.X.]

Not surprised people are ignorant or cynical about unions in the UK if they are as useless as the unions here in Australia. We have had a situation here for years whereby all permanent jobs have gone casual even though people might be doing these jobs for many years. I have never understood how this has been legal but assumed it was because the unions and Labor party have NEVER challenged it. Finally a disabled casual worker took a labour hire company to court and WON. Why did it have to be one individual man putting his head on the block to change this? Why am I paying hundreds of dollars to a union? Shows how corrupt the left has become. No interest whatsoever in actually looking after the people who pay their wages.

[@ameeeeeeela]

This country is so depressing. What can we do? Even the people who are hit the hardest by cuts have somehow been left completely disengaged.

[@benhyde5150]

Its because of the right wing gutter press its ruined the country for decades

[@ameeeeeeela]

@ I don't and never have read The Guardian... Don't really look at anything they do apart from this series on KZbin

[@shollymore]

thank you for this program

[@alundavies8402]

You know that Young man talking about what is needed in Wolverhampton HE is who we should be able to vote for not someone from a background of wealth we need young people like that!!

[@sclibertarian348]

Why is it the government's responsibility to take care of these people from cradle to grave? Seriously, do you want to be free or do you want to be a ward of the state?

[@paulduffy697]

🤣😂😅😂🤣🤪Labour Wall got crushed into dust by a 🌊🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧...Bye 🇪🇺

[@annwalpole1593]

These vids are amazing.

[@wil9089]

You NEED to vote LABOUR! Corbyn is the man of the people and will save the NHS.

[@SacClass650]

Man it must be depressing talking to so many lumpenproletariats, if I may say so - the cognitive dissonance is cataclysmic. Of course, you can say that they're victims, which is true, but then there is willingly continuing to wear the shirt that's saturated in sick. I admire, but don't envy you, John(s)...

[@SacClass650]

@@Irishtradchannel Was it the terminology? I know "lumpenproletariats" can come across dickish, but it accurate in my estimation. I'm not someone who usually has a lot of time for verbose Marxist theory, however, I do have time for the aforementioned "lumpen" and "false consciousness." But please, elucidate your retort, my dear...

[@claudiamariebermudez6727]

If your not going to vote you have no right to complain.

[@leedaintry2923]

Ahh reading the sun, how intellectually challenging.

[@leedaintry2923]

@@thebatman4279 it's hard to decide which is more stimulating, reading the sun, or shagging a shark.

oh yes! lets sneer at the oiks! that'll work..

[@daveruda]

@@chrisf1600 Are you living in a world were people opposed to rightwing tabloid trash are "The Guardian reader"? This tribalist thinking is toxic.