This House Believes That Labour Has Failed The Working Class | Cambridge Union

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This debate took place on Thursday 18th January 2024 at 8:00pm in the Debating Chamber.

The United Kingdom faces a bitter general election this year, 5 years after losses in working class areas doomed Labour to its worst result since 1935. Currently leading the polls is Labour, led by Keir Starmer, aggressively moderating the stance of the party and even suspending its former leader, Corbyn, has greatly improved the poll standing and is broadly tipped to win.

But this approach has not been without its consequences, with many accusing Labour of failing to represent workers on picket lines as NHS workers go on strike or abandoning its key ideological principles. Adding to these difficulties, working class voters, who the Tories carried by 15 points in 2019, may still be unpersuaded on key issues such as immigration.

With international surges for right wing parties among working class supporters from America to the Netherlands observed in recent year, can Labour still represent working class voters? Or has it sold out the working class for electability among the middle classes?

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Proposition:

MAYOR JAMIE DRISCOLL

Jamie Driscoll is the current Mayor of the North of Tyne. Born and raised in a military and NHS background, Mayor Driscoll was elected tothe North of Tyne Combined Authority Mayoral Authority by twelve points in 2019. Since then, he has been a staunch advocate for the left of the Labour Party, declaring a climate emergency when he took office in the North of Tyne.

In 2023, the Labour Party barred him from selection in the North East Mayoral Election; in response, Mayor Driscoll quit the Labour Party and is now running as an independent for the 2024 election.

MR ZACK POLANSKI

Mr Zack Polanski was elected Deputy Leader of the Green Party in 2022. He also sits as a Green Member of the London Assembly. Mr Zack Polanski is a lifelong advocate on climate change, having attended COP26 as a delegate, proposed and passed a Climate and Ecological Emergency motion for London and helped to block Gatwick's expansion. Mr Polanski is also a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

ISMAIL BENYAHIA

Ismail Benyahia is a student speaker that won the right to speak through process of audition.

Opposition:

LORD GRIFFITHS DE BURY PORT

Born in destitution in South Wales, Lord Grifiths was raised on benefits, gained degrees in English, Theology and History at Cardiff, Cambridge and SOAS. He also had a cameo career as an academic, fifty years a Methodist minister including President of the Methodist Conference. In addition to these many accomplishments, Lord Griffiths spent 10 years in Haiti as a broadcast and writer, and has sat for 20 years on the Labour benches in the House of Lords. He is also a delegate to the Council of Europe where he sits on its Migration Committee. He is married with three children.

SEBASTIAN TOPAN

Sebastian Topan is a student speaker that won the right to speak through process of audition.

IOANNIS SKORDIS

Ioannis Skordis is a student speaker that won the right to speak through process of audition.

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