{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/9a03fe9e-1ff0-4dcc-b3f6-50bd1f016ea4/4a77bfd7-34b5-4e75-a56f-56450f1f5738?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Where is the Opposition?","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6195701f2eacc3a36070252a/619570bccb3c660012e3ce8a.jpg?height=200","description":"<p>We look past Covid and Brexit to ask where the long-term opposition to Johnson's government is going to come from.&nbsp;Can Corbynism remain a force in British politics, even without Corbyn?&nbsp;Is there room for a challenge to the Conservatives from the right?&nbsp;Will climate politics drive street protest politics or can it help the Greens?&nbsp;Plus we consider whether Nicola Sturgeon is really the leader of the opposition.&nbsp;With Helen Thompson and Chris Brooke.</p><p><br></p><p>Talking Points:</p><p><br></p><p>Corbynist energy levels are low these days.</p><ul><li>There is a strong Corbynist presence on Twitter and in certain media institutions, but it’s not clear that it extends far beyond those bubbles.</li><li>Much of the radical left politics in the near future will be defensive.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>When Starmer ran for leader, he essentially offered Corbynism without Corbyn.</p><ul><li>The manifestos of 2017 and 2019 were popular inside the Labour Party and reasonably popular with the public.&nbsp;</li><li>Corbyn did move the party out of New Labour’s shadow. Starmer has inherited a party that is firmly outside the New Labour mainstream.</li><li>Although some Corbynists fear a return to New Labour-esque politics, Labour now seems to be a social democratic party in the European mold.&nbsp;</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Will the Green Party benefit from these developments?</p><ul><li>Helen thinks that we are more likely to see increased green activism than a resurgence in Green Party politics.</li><li>Many on the left are disenchanted with parliamentary politics.</li><li>And over the last couple of years, the major parties have shifted on climate.&nbsp;</li></ul><p><br></p><p>If Johnson is really committed to greener politics, does that open space on the right?</p><ul><li>Farage is positioning himself in this gap.</li><li>This could intersect with a rebellion against lockdown.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>What should Starmer do about Scotland?</p><ul><li>Could Starmer make a case that the democratic voice of the people of Scotland must be heard, and then make a social democratic case for the Union?</li><li>A more federal union is going to require stronger institutions in England, which is probably to Labour’s disadvantage.&nbsp;</li><li>Time for the SNP to weaken is probably the best way forward for both unionist parties.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Mentioned in this Episode:</p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.waterstones.com/book/this-land/owen-jones/9780241470947\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>This Land</em> by Owen Jones</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Further Learning:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n23/james-butler/failed-vocation\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">James Butler on the Corbyn project for the LRB</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.france24.com/en/france/20201214-macron-plans-referendum-on-including-climate-change-fight-in-french-constitution\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">More on Macron, the constitution, and climate politics</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.talkingpoliticspodcast.com/blog/2018/114-labours-fault-lines\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">From our archives… Labour’s Fault Lines</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/14/andy-burnham-the-real-me-comes-out-when-im-angry\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">A profile of Andy Burnham from <em>The Guardian</em></a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>And as ever, recommended reading curated by our friends at the LRB can be found here: </strong><a href=\"http://lrb.co.uk/talking\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>lrb.co.uk/talking</strong></a></p>","author_name":"David Runciman and Catherine Carr"}