All over the democratic world, the mainstream parties of the centre-Left and centre-Right are desperately looking for the antidote to the populist Left and Right – especially to the Right, which is the bigger threat to them. Nowhere have they succeeded in this quest.
But, post-Makerfield, the Labour Party now thinks that in Andy Burnham it’s discovered the holy grail – that he’s the man to take on those nasty, insurgent populists and win. It should prepare to be disappointed before the year is out.
True, it was a resounding victory. In a constituency which voted strongly Brexit in the 2016 referendum
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