The attachment to the Labour party is historical and deep rooted. It is about what the party stood for and for the people it worked for. It's about values and morals and beliefs. I could no more vote Tory than I could support southampton. Thatcher and co had a clear set of principles and plans, my view is that they were the wrong ones, but they had them. The current Tories have no guiding principles at all, a bunch of grabbing chancers and crooks. In it for themselves. Johnson has surrounded himself with sycophants and supporters (and Gove). Johnson blows with the wind.
Blair shook things up, by trying to have a broader appeal. There was much his government did that was admirable. The rebuilding of schools and focus on children and young people, including sure start centres, was brilliant. Prior to 97 many of the older schools were in disrepair, not unusual to see a leaking roof. But any initiatives had to earn a supportive Daily Mail headline. Blair had an eye on what the likes of the Mail and the Express said and wanted to appeal to their readers. Understandable but many felt that many policies betrayed the working class roots of the Labour movement.
It is anathema to me to swap between voting Labour and Tory. I know many do. And that illustrates the current and ongoing shift in politics. People vote for personalities and have less attachment to a set of principles. The 'news' is soundbite driven trivia - yes/no black/white. Little real chance to get underneath the issues.
The media and those in privileged positions would never allow a truly reforming Labour party to win. That's why they were frightened of Corbyn and his pledges to ensure that the rich and their companies paid their fair share of tax.
The left/ right thing only works now when the Tories and their supporters use left wing as a threat, to conjour up fear. People say things like 'too left wing' and I have no idea what this means. A fair wage, decent housing, good education and health systems, uk owning its own public utilities (many are government owned, just not our government), an end to poverty, people paying the tax that they should. Are these left wing? I'd say not.
Starmer is in an impossible position. He has no chance of becoming prime minister as things stand. I'm not sure he ever does. The labour party must be clear about their vision for the country and it's people. The leader must believe in the vision and inspire hope and belief in people. Should start with talking with LibDems and Greens and seek common ground with them.