What is Reddit's opinion of The New Working Class: How to Win Hearts, Minds and Votes?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

The book in question, for anyone interested:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/new-working-class-Claire-Ainsley/dp/1447344189/

I want to address these point by point, but I also think it's really, really important to make a clear distinction between policies that you support in 'usual' times, and policies you support during a pandemic. It's not good enough to say 'he promised to support x, but he wont support x during the pandemic'. That out the way...

(1) On tax, Keir's promise was to increase income tax on the top 5% of earners. The taxes being proposed (largely) to pay for the Covid response were wealth taxes. These are very different things. In the article that the screenshot is taken, it is made categorically clear that is is not in reference to income tax, so the tweet is totally misleading.

(2) On tuition fees, Starmer has categorically not in any way supported keeping tuition fees. One of his advisors wrote a book two years ago that made the argument for keeping tuition fees. Saying Starmer has 'broken his pledge' because one of his advisors said something 2+ years ago which doesn't align is obviously horseshit. Book here if anyone's interested.

(3) I thought the misleading bullshit from point 1 would be the worst, but this is just nothing? Their evidence Starmer has failed on his commitment to climate justice is... because some random Corbynites said so? Is that supposed to be a joke?

(4) It gets more laughable as we go on! This one's astounding. Because Keir launches a 'Friends of The Forces' program to support current and ex servicemen, it therefore means he's somehow in favour of illegal wars? Or against peace? What the fuck is this honestly.

(5) ... I mean... A momentum activist says she doesn't know if Keir is in favour of nationalising energy, despite him saying categorically he is... I... nope

(6) Apparently the evidence here that Starmer isn't sticking to his pledge is that he... checks notes called on the government to provide detail about their plans to deal with migrant boat crossings. Pretty special.

(7) On the unions question - people seem to be wilfully misinterpreting Keir's pledge to strengthen workers rights and trade unions as him pledging to always agree with and defer to unions no matter what they say, which is clearly ludicrous. We can strengthen workers rights and trade unions while still being clear when union leadership get things wrong. And indeed most of the supposed disagreements with the unions recently have actually been manufactured - for instance on face masks in schools, the unions said they wanted teachers to be able to wear facemasks, not that they'd be forced, and Labour only came out against mandatory face masks, not the right to wear one. So again; bullshit.

(9) So because Keir regretted not using a clearer choice of words it means he's somehow against equality? This guy has been a vocal supporter of the BLM movement, he called it a 'moment' as in 'pivotal moment' and a few factionally driven people started attacking him and deliberately misinterpreting his words. He then immediately clarified what he meant. This guy has saved 100s of black lives with pro bono work across his career. To accuse him of being anything other than a true ally to the BLM cause is outrageous.

(10) When Keir inhereted the Labour leadership, Labour were polling at 29% and the Tories on 51%. The most recent poll you've included shows he's now within the margin of error of being neck and neck with the Tories... Not only that the other two show massive positive shifts since March. You're literally arguing against your own point. And let's not also forget Keir recently overtook Boris in best PM polls - he's now the nations first choice. And he is polling better than Boris on [all these important qualities](). And as for opposing the Tories - just look at all the U turns he's forced! From no health surcharge for migrant healthcare workers, to free school meals over the summer, to today's announcement on A level results.

So incredibly this thread manages to mislead and be completely wrong on all nine points it raises.

Wow.

It's a fair question - and the answer is that I read his head of policy's book. He put her in place very very quickly and that gives more than a hint as to what his policies are likely to be. I don't agree with everything she says but it's really worth a read.