It’s very odd what passes for clever political strategy these days
Focusing on unpopular policies and unpopular people is an odd approach, to say the least, to political strategy. And yet that’s what we’ve seen this week.
First, here’s a little comparison between Labour and the Liberal Democrats:
How they've fared so far this year:
Party membership
Lib Dem ⬆️
Labour ⬇️Number of councillors
Lib Dem ⬆️
Labour ⬇️Number of MPs
Lib Dem ⬆️
Labour ⬇️Opinion poll ratings
Lib Dem ⬆️
Labour ⬇️— Mark Pack 🔶 (@markpack) August 16, 2019
Plus of course:
You forgot:
Number of MEPs
Lib Dem ⬆️⬆️…
Labour ⬇️⬇️…— Stan Collins (@NatsSnilloc) August 17, 2019
All of which helps explain why Labour’s tactics in the last week weren’t so smart:
An unconventional take on Corbyn and GNU: personalising an issue as being about your party leader isn't a smart move when your leader is one of the most unpopular politicians in the country.
— Mark Pack 🔶 (@markpack) August 16, 2019
Indeed, more generally – focusing on unpopular things doesn’t make for smart political strategy:
What counts as political genius is very odd:
Tories: our super strategist is leading us to a No Deal that *checks notes* only a third of folk support
Labour: our 4D chess playing maestro is making it about getting into power *checks notes* one of UK's most unpopular politicians
— Mark Pack 🔶 (@markpack) August 17, 2019
But there are some good things in politics, such as in Sheffield:
This is Laura.
She will be a fabulous MP.
And she'll help stop Brexit.
Here's how you can make that happen: https://t.co/RpIoU641gI pic.twitter.com/BfEX4Kw8Sh
— Mark Pack 🔶 (@markpack) August 17, 2019
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