The coming election will see the establishment pitted against the people – and the people will win
On 9th April 2019 I encountered a political first, which after 40 years of active campaigning is increasingly rare. That evening, while canvassing for support in Eccles, a small working-class village in the otherwise prosperous and leafy council ward I represent in Kent, I encountered loathing and hatred. At door after door (I think eleven consecutive properties), they left me in no doubt that they hated who I was and everything I stood for. I have encountered anger before, which of us has not? During the Poll Tax, the ERM debacle and MPs’ expenses they hated what we had done. But this was different. Now they hated “us” for who we were and what we represented. It didn’t matter whether you were a Thatcherite Brexiteer like me or a patrician elitist Remoaner, we were all as bad as each other. We were “them” and we were out to do them over. And what’s worse, every one of those angry, betrayed and hostile people was a former Conservative pledge. And who can blame them? We promised (and