The Battle for Hartlepool: Is Labour Heading for Disaster?

With a critical by-election looming there, I headed to Hartlepool in England's North East to find out if Labour are about to lose another crucial brick in the crumbling so-called 'Red Wall'. I meet with the party's candidate, candidates standing for the Northern Independence Party and Reform, the current and former leader of the council, Labour canvassers and voters on the ground to ask - why is a seat in which Labour won a crushing victory less than 4 years ago at risk of falling out of its hands, potentially providing Boris Johnson with a critical triumph?
It's a complex mix: younger voters leaving towns like this as politics polarises by age, poverty sitting side by side with economically secure retired homeowners, the Tories ploughing investment into their favoured communities, and Labour lacking any coherent vision. Can Labour ever rebuild an electoral coalition to secure power - or are we doomed to indefinite Tory rule?
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Videographer: Jack Barraclough / clip credit 27:39 - 27:36 - The Hartlepool Wombles

[@OwenJonesTalks]

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[@emersonsimmo90]

How do you think it will go Owen? Very interesting, potentially very important moment, do you think Kier has to go if he loses?

[@dylanlarge11]

@@emersonsimmo90 He has to go anyway but yes.

[@emersonsimmo90]

@@dylanlarge11 I tend to agree, personally I am generally a conservative voter, but nevertheless I still expect a strong opposition to push the already questionable conservative government, and I don’t think he has got it in him.

[@dylanlarge11]

@@emersonsimmo90 Well each to their own but they are the reason we have children starving, 'let the bodies pile high' is apparently acceptable during these times etc. Corbyn was the one to provide real opposition because well he was the total opposite of the tories but now it may aswell be the same party.

[@danielbentham758]

But the majority of media is Liberal/Centre left? 🤣

[@jamesunderscore]

"They're memeing votes away from us!" Mate, if your appeal to voters is so fragile it can be memed away, the problem is not the memers.

[@mclaconic7974]

Spot on

[@WokeBegone]

@Felim Mac Amhalghaidh Spot on mate! 👍

[@TheInfinitemark]

I'm sorry but that Labour candidate came across as so jittery and flustered. No wonder their Press Officer refused the interview.

[@KatieScarlett2353]

@Michael Moz So maybe he wasn't the right person to parachute in, overriding the CLP's chosen candidate?

[@possiblystevo9141]

Imagine voting Tory because you are upset at the results of austerity. The absolute horror.

[@michaelchapman-johns1935]

You vote Tory because despite austerity...they respect democracy. Labour electing Keir was a high mistake.

[@norawright807]

@@michaelchapman-johns1935 Forgive me, Michael, but you really really sound like a particularly asinine Bot with a strong aroma of Troll wafting around your comments. If you are either a Bot or a Troll, my opinion of your pathetic stab at trying to sit at the Big Boys' table has failed dismally. So I sincerely hope that you are a Botty Bot Bot/Troll, because the alternative is too tragic to contemplate.

[@IrishBog]

@@norawright807 ad hominem attack and you accuse him of being a troll.... project much?

[@useroldaccount]

Like all those ‘bots’ and ‘trolls’ that voted in Hartlepool?

[@giovannipanzeri6431]

Williams was awful in this interview. Absolutely no idea of what he or labour actually stand for at the moment.

[@timk6181]

Mandy apparently.

[@ActionFitz79]

Neither does anyone else... to be fair

[@giovannipanzeri6431]

@@ActionFitz79 I don't agree. the northern independence socialist candidate was kilometers above the rest.

[@alfiehamilton97]

Can see why Labour didn't want the candidate to do any interviews

[@lewisner]

When he lost he stormed off and wouldn't comment.

[@graceomalley4]

He seemed to be very unconfident for sure.

[@gregorian1493]

20:50 ​Owen jones referring to the Tories as "hard right" , now whose meming? 😂

[@Minihood31770]

There is something very strange about seeing Owen Jones come out of the Thornaby Station I know so well.

[@PurushaDesa]

Proudfoot didn’t sound like he was joking on Novara Media. He was pretty lucid in his political analysis of Labour centrism.

[@californiadreamin8423]

Great news then because Corbyns brew of socialism clearly wasn’t to the taste of the electorate.....worst disaster since 1935.

[@kratos.8151]

@@californiadreamin8423 Worked well in 2017. Brexit broke Corbyns labour.

[@KarlHamilton]

@@kratos.8151 Labour broke Corbyn's Labour.

[@californiadreamin8423]

@@kratos.8151 Did I miss something ? Have we had a Labour Government since 2017 ? There are only winners and losers in this game and Corbyn simply wasn’t smart enough, hungry enough , to win. Oh Brexit broke Corbyn.....Corbyn broke Corbyn through indecision.....and the country smelt it.

[@mantistoboggan1503]

@@californiadreamin8423 I love how proud centrists are of their total disinterest in actually learning anything from elections. Straight up publicly admitting that there's nothing to learn from the only election in which Labour *increased* its vote share in 20 years. So scared of mild socdem policy that you plug your ears and scream "cOrByN bAd" until it hopefully becomes true. You love to see it

[@GA-wq8xq]

Talking about sleaze, but Hartlepool voted for Mandelson, who epitomized sleaze

[@TheHauntedAngel]

I don't know how Owen can say that Conservatives investing money is "bribery" for votes, but Labour doing this is somehow not bribery.

[@EyebrowsGaming]

Labour doesn't just do it right before election time, that's how.

[@TheHauntedAngel]

@@EyebrowsGaming This by election was only announced a couple of months ago. All of this is "right before"

[@henridobbs2423]

I know it’s only Tuesday but this is the best coverage on Hartlepool I’ve seen all week.

[@OfficalFaint]

Labour picked a pro Remain career MP, we voted him out of Stockton South because he did nothing for the area and did whatever the labour whip told him to do, don't you think Hartlepool folk will wonder why their neighbours didn't want him 🤔

[@stasikapetanos1395]

Labour and all similiar parties are also so full of it these days. They say nothing and they stand for even less.

[@ToCoSo]

It got Trump and Boris into power!!!

[@WokeBegone]

Labour... promoting terrorism and divisive policies since 1996

[@dmacks]

More informative than any 'traditional' news broadcast. Thanks.

[@Tom_Nicholas]

This was great. Thank you to you and your team for putting together such a comprehensive report.

[@callumsykes1307]

Oh hi Tom

[@englishguy9680]

😂

[@137Rita]

This is mostly a very accurate documentary - I live in the North East and as a former member of the Labour Party, would love to vote for Thelma Walker rather than 'Saudi Paul'. Luckily I don't live in Hartlepool and only need to vote for my brilliant Labour councillor this Thursday. But Owen, please - NOT ALL OLDIES ARE TORIES. I'm on the dismal state pension, rent a small flat and get more left-wing as I get older!!!!!

[@Gooner184]

Owen is aware of this, just that there is undeniably a massive age gap in politics now.

[@jazzyb9488]

To some extent I think the age is a red herring. Older people are more likely to be property owners, it’s this ownership of your own home that seems to be driving a shift in values that the Tories can exploit. We live in a time where the route to wealth is less about the work you do but the assets you hold Also brexit

[@scotti6219]

Abandoning the working class in favour of middle class London identity politics is what's killed labour yet you still blame the press and anyone else but yourselves until you realise this your doomed for more failure

[@benkidd4954]

Quite a worrying and anti democratic stance from the labour campaigner to say that a vote for anyone but labour or the conservatives is irrelevant and that other parties don’t matter! Maybe if labour were offering better policies, more people wouldn’t be moving to the likes of the northern Independence Party or the Green Party.

[@kingchamed]

Paul Williams may be an honest guy but he came across as hesitant and lacking in self belief. Anyone with a shred of self awareness would avoid Mandelson like the plague. Thelma was quite nice and the Reform candidate wasn't a ghoul. I predicted a Tory win after a tossup and it may end up being an easy one. Starmer should bear the brunt of this .

[@RC-pt3lx]

Owen, please. Corbyn's personal ratings were in extreme negative territory in 2019, which is why Labour lost. However great you or others might think Corbyn was, the majority of British voters didn't agree. Stop trying to gaslight everyone into believing that wasn't the case. It's getting ridiculous now.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

You got your answer today, Owen - it's a yes. They have lost Hartlepool.

[@crawford1083]

And as Labour is no longer the party of the indigenous working class instead represents immigrants and BAME people and intersectionalists, it will likely lose this seat.

[@123franco37]

Thelma Walker puts it best. We’re not against Labour, we’re for democratic socialism because that’s what this country needs

[@PunkChef42]

Thelma Walker seems relaxed, whereas the labour candidate is really on edge

[@567secret]

Thelma Walker was actually a Labour 2017 MP, but left the party when Starmer became leader. She was meant to be listed as Northern Independence Party here in Hartlepool, but will only be down as independent.

[@slomas8863]

I guess Paul was brickin it that Owen were going to bring up the House of Saud!

[@TheHauntedAngel]

Thelma has nothing to lose.

[@enciam3680]

@@567secret I'm fairly sure she'll be on the ballot paper as Northern Independence Party as she's their candidate. I know there was some confusion caused by Labour attempts to cast doubt on NIP's registration but she's been campaigning and is standing as a NIP candidate in their first parliamentary seat election.

[@KatieScarlett2353]

@@567secret I belive she left b/c she was suspended (like so many others) for some spurious reason that NEC wouldn't reveal.

[@deedee9053]

Labour killed Labour in the North East , Anna Turley apologised to me about Jeremy Corbyn as leader, I said he was great, she lost Redcar. Maybe a Conservative MP in Hartlepool is for the best, when the Right wing of Labour cannot abide the Left.

[@eileengibson359]

A thorough examination. Vote for the Northern Independence Party. The Labour Party stands for corporatism. Jeremy Corbyn had fantastic socialist policies and that is why he succeeded in Hartlepool. Starmer voting Remain caused Labour to falter in 2019 but Corbyn still held it. Labour under Starmer is finished. It stands for superficiality.

[@caneandabel]

Awww love Auntie Thelma. Big ‘Put the kettle on love’ energy 💕

[@wellyman2008]

So let me get this right, Tories spending money in impoverished regions where they have representation is buying votes but Labour spending money in impoverished regions, where they have representation, are investing in the future?

[@rowdogspeaks5900]

It's sort of sad when people don't recognise that councils, whoever they are run by get their money from central government, so I don't think it's fair to blame Labour constituencies for lack of investment when it's the Tories who fail to offer enough of it. That said, Starmer is a wet towel as opposition.

[@frankshailes3205]

Sadly, the voters seem too daft to realise that austerity and starving the town of funds (both Tory Westminster policies) aren't done by the local Labour representative(s). I guess they will get the politicians they deserve.

[@neilconnolly485]

Voted Labour at every general election since 1983 (first time I was entitled to vote in ge ) but won't under Starmer

[@norawright807]

Way to go, Big Boy. (Neil Connolly). Because the alternative is so appealing, am I right or am I right? It's just great to see Johnson and his cabal of wreckers whose only goal is to turn old Blighty into a tax haven for billionaires who bankrolled Brexit. Almost forgot to mention the blatant thieving that is draining the Exchequer dry, multi million pound contracts handed over to Tory party donors, friends and family who have never ever produced the PPE procurement, or the 37 billion pounds wasted on a Track and Trace system that disappeared into thin air. No accountability, no shame. But by all means, do not sully yourself by voting for the Labour party under Keir Starmer. Perish the thought. You absolute jackass.

[@neilconnolly485]

@@norawright807 I would have voted Green sooner he goes the better

[@olivermorrison2342]

Great summary in the description Owen. Pretty much hit the nail on the head, the tories have an effective an obvious strategy (to target homeowners) whearas Labour doesn't. The political system favours the tories and I don't really know the answer tbh

[@jamesgunn7]

Need to somehow get into power and change the electoral system to an STV-type system. Would be the fairest in terms of representation, and you couldn't really argue it's a selfish move because the Tories could still win under it.

[@olivermorrison2342]

@@jamesgunn7 'somehow get I to power' I'm more inclined to believe Marx to be honest and suggest that revolution is impossible. We are seeing an increase in civil unrest a cross the world as capitalism undergoes harsher and harsher crises. I'm not saying it's gonna happen soon just that it will happen eventually

[@dm0065]

Well look at what youre saying, you're accepting that the tories speak to the concerns of those voters, the homeowners. Then you're saying that Labour doesn't. Is your conclusion really that it's the system that's at fault?

[@olivermorrison2342]

@@dm0065 Labour shouldn't be a party for homeowners, because homeowners interests are not those of the majority. Labour was founded and should be a party of the working class since that does reflect the views of the majority. Ita the systems fault that the views of the majority are not reflected in government.

[@olivermorrison2342]

@@dm0065 basically yes you are right. The system priveliged the views of the minority of homeowners over the majority.

[@brendanhawkins1755]

Just watched the interview regarding Paul Williams vision for Hartlepool..he didn't have one.

[@MexxiUK]

You have to be from Hartlepool to understand Hartlepool. The reason labour is projected to lose this town is not because of the competence of the conservative party, but because of the failings of the labour party for almost 50 years. Make no mistake that this town does have money but that money is completely mismanaged. Not to mention they've got yet another career politician standing in for MP, doctor or not, it shows how out of touch the labour party is with this town.

[@MexxiUK]

The irony of the Akers-belchers talking is absolutely colossal since they've looked after their own pockets and ran the council by overwhelming people with their self entitled attitude.

[@OfficiaQuestGraphics]

Labours advisers need chucking out and new ones in. Labour is a disaster.

[@rachel.mcgowan]

You could say the same about Salford, yet Labour will win easily again. I’ve lived there for over 20 years, Labour have run Salford for over 50. Away from the few “glamour” areas, things are not pretty. And yet the electors of Salford seem conditioned to keep voting Labour into power. I think the Tories are still seen locally as toffs, they always win the 3 wealthiest wards in every election, and Labour always win at least 15 of the other 17. LibDems used to be a growing threat to Labour but that ended when they went into the Coalition in 2010

[@MexxiUK]

@@rachel.mcgowan it's a sad reality, looks as though the people of Hartlepool have woke up now and smelt the coffee

[@Charlie-wx4it]

Paul Williams looks out of his depth

[@1994llama]

Thelma really just makes you feel like you're having cup of tea with your nan! She is such a special and relatable politician

[@cumannach6739]

I bloody love thelma she's just a normal and lovely person who you just want to sit and have a brew with!

[@crawford1083]

Granny Grunt is symptomatic of all that is wrong with the left, socialism is dead and we have to embrace social democracy as we did under Blair, thriving market economy with a decent safety-net and modest but not too massive welfare.

[@turbolevo8703]

The “Labour” party is dying.

[@ToCoSo]

Its amazing how Boris is seen as being for the people, when he shows such disdain for us and seems hellbent on filling his pockets and welcoming Russian Oligarchs. A bit of flag waving fixes any lies.

[@ToCoSo]

@@robtall5537 is it medication time

[@topcat1358]

is Labour heading for disaster??? ...................YES - HAHAHAHA!!....Well done, Sherlock

[@DF.303]

Labour take Hartlepool for granted. We need to become a marginal seat so both parties will fight for it and invest in the town! Look at Darlington...soon to be High speed rail link and relocation of the treasury. The industrial heartland is long gone, the shipyards and the pits are a distant memory! It's time for change!!

[@postmanpat6]

The reasons you lost. 1. Kneeling for a criminal 2. Pandering to those who think you can change gender. 3. Disrespecting law and order. 4. Labour mps being hateful on social media

[@joshpetzoldt6344]

Number 2 is transgenderist. Also, Tories are much more hateful on social media than Labour

[@LazlowUK]

After seeing the labour party candidate here, I'm not surprised the locals decided to boot him.

[@kennethbent6423]

Starmer is a moment not a movement

[@TheDonMan97]

Was Corbyn a movement? Clearly that failed...

[@kennethbent6423]

@@TheDonMan97 corbyn's irrelevant starmer has got nobody to blame but himself because he has no plan and no spine. if only he had a policy anything

[@williamkeane255]

What does labour stand for in Hartlepool "waffle waffle waffle" ...... Conservative win lol

[@robertreid2241]

18:33 Just brilliant. As someone living in a town in the north of England, but looking to work in an industry dominated by London, this rings so true. There's so much to offer in towns like mine if people recognise their potential

[@mmlas8683]

No wonder Williams got destroyed in Hartlepool. A bad orator with no vision and no charisma.

[@baltasarnoreno5973]

The Labour parliamentary candidate was unable to explain what Labour's vision is for the UK or for Hartlepool. 'Nuff said...

[@tonyy452]

A choice between the sleazy tories and the return of the sleazy wing of the Labour Party. Labour have always taken my vote for granted in my area.

[@Gritto1445]

Very poor candidate Labour have put forward here. No charisma at all.

[@amandacole657]

The harshest of truths. Labour is in the descendent, grim and painful

[@frankshailes3205]

That's like blaming an unconscious patient for dying when someone turns their oxygen off. The local authorities are being starved of funding by the Tories.

[@piersmartin6946]

Not sure who looks more out of place the labour candidate or little owen

[@JurgenKranz]

Labour's collapse in places like the Red Wall feels really similar to their collapse in Scotland. Remote, aloof, and arrogant. It feels too late.

[@Unavailable355]

Enlightening as it is depressing. But as someone from the North it feels to me that local Labour-held councils are going to struggle massively. Central Govt, which has been Tory for over a decade, has held the purse strings but its long standing Labour councils who are blamed for local decline. I don’t know how Labour address this.

[@rattylol]

Fight, don't just sit back and lazily cave to Tory demands, they're not obligatory.

[@col8723]

I am from Hartlepool and unfortunately this video just sums up the situation. Labour at the moment are just clueless they chose the worst possible candidate to stand. Unfortunately though people are in the mindset that it has to be either Labour or conservatives so the majority look to be voting conservatives either though in the 11 years they been in government they have took police officers away party closed the police station meaning anyone arrested has to go though to Middlesbrough leaving even less police in the town closed the court meaning again people have to go though to Middlesbrough seen poverty rise in the town that they is about 9 different foodbanks here now and now a baby bank as well yet people here are just going to vote conservative it seems. That is despite some decent candidates standing as independent and other parties. It just worries me the way this country is going.

[@patrickmulholland9332]

Who’s laughing now Jones, thx for helping the Tories with your patronising wokeness.

[@khsstudios12]

Are people aware ALL county and local councils receive their funding from central government and the tories have consistently reduced funding to local and county councils that are Labour run? tories will never support Labour council leaders, despite the councils that have “declared bankruptcy” have been tory councils!

[@craigdavidson2278]

Labour in hartlepool, did not listen to the majority Brexit vote....so, bye bye labour.

[@lewisner]

What exactly did Labour do for Hartlepool in the 47 years they had a Labour MP and the 18 years there was a Labour government ?

[@IrishBog]

Well that didn't age well 16 point swing to the Tories .... but I'm sure it'll be because Starmer isn't radical enough.... or apathy of the voters, not a reflection on the Labour Party :)

[@OwenJonesTalks]

all these people saying "that didn't age well" have clearly not watched this video

[@567secret]

It's really disappointing hearing they fear lack of investment if they don't vote for the government party, it just makes me think of what Corbyn's Labour could've done for the impoverished areas across the country, as he, and those of us on the left, actually cared.

[@Nanowith1]

I think your last point about Labour having to appeal to two diverging core bases was really pognient. I feel increasingly despondant as I wonder if the differences between these groups are reconcilable. In any other electoral system than FPTP it would result in a split and possible coalition; but our broken electoral system means these broad alliances are all that's possible. With the aliances of today seemingly formed over social values I honestly can't see a way for Labour to win.

[@Irishtradchannel]

It's a class divide as well working class base Vs middle class activists.

[@gameofthrows9357]

The answer is Yes 😆 🧎🏻‍♂️🧎‍♀️ GO WOKE GO BROKE

[@GrandesGirlies]

Love this style of video! Would be great to see more of these in the future :)

[@sarahcameron8279]

Hi Owen. Can I ask why you didn’t mention Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein when talking about sleaze? Quite a big omission.

[@stevephillips9850]

Nevermind there's always Venezuela 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MidnightRambler]

Oh no not over whelming white 😂

[@Ukfairgrounds]

Imagine a overwhelmingly white area in a European country 😂😂😂

[@dianabrown1409]

Don't people know that we had 10 years of cuts and cuts omg 😱

[@jamesgunn7]

People don't seem to understand that a large chunk of council budgets come from central government. If the budgets have been cut, which they have over the last 11 years, then naturally the services in those constituencies will decline

[@NedTesco]

Doesn't help that for the first half of the decade Labour were too scared of our own shadow to emphatically come out against austerity and actually talk about the cuts.

[@jameslrbrand2002uk]

@@jamesgunn7 Really more of this pifling "the electorate are stupid" nonsense?. The people of Teesside are friendly however they don't tolerate the arrogant southern snobbery you just espoused sir !. It's well known across Teesside that Labour councils have been wasteful with taxpayers money on stupid vanity projects while taking backhanders from property developers to build more houses in areas that already can't cope with the existing traffic. But by all means keep spouting your arrogant southern nonsense cowering behind the safety of your keyboard.

[@jamesgunn7]

@@jameslrbrand2002uk "which is why I'm voting Tory, the very definition of fiscal responsibility"

[@Philiptanzer]

Well Labour certainly deserve to be crushed, vote Tory :D

[@scottishbombolini7794]

Highlights why Scotland will now walk, wtf has happened to Angerland?

[@neuralwarp]

England will always do what is best for the UK. Scotland will always do what is best for Scotland.

[@scottishbombolini7794]

@@neuralwarp By voting Tory?

[@jamesjack6769]

@@neuralwarp Like what they did for Northern Ireland 😄

[@spacerockerlightyears]

Great document, well done to all the team, these programmes are getting better and better,

[@matthewowen2182]

The reason why Labour did better in the 2017 Election was that they said they would honour the result of the referendum of 2016 and stop the free movement of people , once they changed on that, it was over , labour still lost in 2017 by 56 to the Conservatives, but somehow seen as some sort of Victory by the left.

[@MWArcher]

Owen! I was desperately hoping for an Anywhere But Westminster episode in Hartlepool and you've essentially delivered! Fantastic! Thank you very much. So interesting to hear people on the ground.

[@iainmaciain6220]

Of all the candidates Paul Williams is by far the least convincing.

[@tomm9963]

Labour can only answer in buzzwords, it's embarrassing

[@ruthbashford3176]

Keir Starmer did for Labour when he took the knee

[@colinwhite5355]

Well put together, balanced and reasonable presentation, therefore entirely out of step with what we’re constantly fed by a predominantly right wing press. The idea that this Tory administration would ever give a single damn for ordinary people is a well crafted lie spooned out in quantity. Sadly, it’s effective.

[@turbolevo8703]

Oh dear. More wilderness years for you. Is that all you’ve got? We’ve voted against our own interests? That mouldy old chestnut! People are voting Conservative in ever increasing numbers because it is in their own interests. You just can’t acknowledge that which you do not like because you are childish and undeveloped.

[@frankcarrodus7543]

Do you know what the Labour message is?

[@leezowers3964]

Spot on Jonesy this leadership couldn't win a coin toss

[@philwills9834]

Big fan of yours Owen, came to your speech in Broxtowe in 2019. Outstanding. Keep doing what you are doing. Much love and support to you my friend.

[@Gooner184]

Paul Williams is absolutely useless lmao

[@enta_nae_mere7590]

All of the country is in terminal decline, all our services are being cut and falling apart. The Tories are smart, they can argue that Labour safeseats are why those areas are failing. And Labour can't even argue back. They are just as guilty, their council's implemented austerity as much as the Tories. But what's going to happen in the Tory seats? Despite Keith's best wishes people aren't going to vote for him because he waves the cross, what does he think this is the Southern Strategy? No people in Tory safeseats are going to continue to be lead to blame others. Farage's neat little strategy of blaming the EU(foreigners and globalisation) and metropolitan elites(progressive and minorities) will continue as this country becomes ever more right wing. Labour has to offer a real alternative or the only hope will be for parties like the SNP, Plaid Cymru and now those NIPs to break free as this ship sinks. There's honestly so little hope left.

[@aj7808]

Are we doomed to indefinite Tory rule? No. When the public is finally given a decent alternative they'll vote for it. Might be another 10 years or so but it'll happen. Do I like this government - hell no! I also don't like the notion that the only alternative is Labour, or at least this current version of Labour. Nothing personal against Keir but he needs to expel the stench of the Corbynistas from his back benches (I'm willing to bet he's trying). Anyway - as I type all eyes on Hartlepool.

[@christophermorrison8632]

That bloke at 14 mins hits the nail on the head. The strategy of Labour for too long is percieved as keep 'em needy, keep 'em complaining, keep 'em voting Labour. And they've simply lost patience with that. And as for the idea that investment is bribery, criticising an opponent for doing what one has been saying should have happened for years just sounds hollow and hypocritical and the electorate there are more than savvy enough to know this.

[@Seatonian1]

This video contains my footage that you have used without permission, this is a copyright infringement!

[@OwenJonesTalks]

hello! we'd love to resolve this so let us know how we contact you!

[@Seatonian1]

@@OwenJonesTalks Sent you a message on Facebook

[@Seatonian1]

No need to reply - checked an it has been removed. Thanks

[@cumannach6739]

Incredibly proud to support thelma and NIP, we need real democratic socialism brought about by passionate ordinary northerners with an extraordinary love for the people

[@robertallen6013]

even if labour win the fact its close is game over

[@Johnsavage1]

Labour is dying which is awful for us that what to end tory rule but it can't be denied that Labour is killing itself, it's so depressing i what hope but i can't live on false hope.

[@Stewart2240]

I've heard it reported that voters in Hartlepool intend to vote for '.change' and so will vote Tory . Given we've had the Tories in power at Westminster since 2010 and they have a Tory backed coalition Council that logic escapes me completely.

[@col8723]

I from Hartlepool and it baffles me as well

[@fionadent7800]

Oh dear that was depressing; like watching a slow motion train crash

[@alanjackson4028]

The name that must never be spoken won this seat. Now the plp said other leader would be 20 points ahead Time to see

[@mike-xt7qi]

The labour MP put forward not one single policy for change, when all os said and done that’s ultimately the problem here.

[@triumphontour895]

Sooooo … how did it go ?? 😂😂😂😂

[@mechasartre3694]

The labour candidate is a terrible public speaker.

[@jeffsmith3392]

Labour will get a whack in a few hours here in Middlesbrough, as we vote for Ben the Tees Valley Mayor.

[@marktucker208]

My big frustration is that those who are running the Labour party at the moment and some people in the media said that Corbyn was the biggest problem. That replacing him would bring the voters back for Labour, yet hes been replaced and judging by the expected results tomorrow, thats not been the case. Yet nobody in the media at the moment will mention it. Starmers whole "bit" was being able to unify the party and bring the voters back, his strategy isnt achieving this but he gets a free pass.

[@chrisbarstow8308]

lister Listening to the Labour Candidate they are doomed

[@108noonoo]

The Labour candidate in Hartlepool is terrible doesn't talk like a genuine person. Sad sounds like everything Hartlepool doesn't want.

[@simonyorkshire241]

This is an excellent documentary, even if its conclusion (though correct) is depressing for us on the left. The fact that working-class voters now see little distinction between Labour and the Tories, alongside the Labour candidate's inability to state Labour's vision, is bleak.

[@garycook1751]

It’s people like Owen Jones why people don’t vote Labour!!!!

[@djghoul6782]

Real real journalism