The Owen Jones Podcast

Batley and Spen: Keir Starmer's last chance?

06.25.2021 - By Owen JonesPlay

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Weeks after losing Hartlepool to the Tories, Labour has another major test in the Batley and Spen by-election. This is the constituency once represented by Jo Cox - murdered by a far right terrorist in 2016 - and it's a diverse community. But many voters feel disillusioned with the current main opposition, not least British Muslims, 86% of whom voted Labour nationally in 2019 but who feel that loyalty is not reciprocated. With the controversial George Galloway standing, some are determined to vote for him to give Labour a bloody nose. How much further does Labour's electoral coalition have to fragment as its naturally most loyal voters feel taken for granted?

I visit the constituency to speak to everyone from George Galloway to Andy Burnham - presumed to be a likely successor as Labour leader - to Kim Leadbeater, Labour's candidate, to local voters to work out what's happening to the opposition - and where that leaves our crisis-stricken country.

Videographer: Jack Barraclough.

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