Letters: Voter loyalties are no longer for life – unlike football allegiances

A Big Issue reader points out that voters no longer subscribe to lifelong party loyalties in the same way they do their football team.

Reddit responds to our article on party loyalties, comparing it to football

2015-19 saw ‘Red Wall’ voters who had never previously voted Tory move to the Tories because they felt they reflected their socially conservative views better and, emboldened by Brexit, hoped that this might make them better off. Last year saw them move to Labour, Reform or stay home again because they felt let down. 

Similarly, demographic shifts and general dissatisfaction with the Tories saw people in the South East shift to Labour and Lib Dems. This might have happened sooner had Labour not scared half the population into voting Tory with their selection of leader. 

Voters have become more savvy and open to changing their vote. We don’t generally support political parties like football teams, and though long-term members still have the loyalty of football ultras, they don’t swing elections. 

u/asmiggs 

I think the main factor in whether Labour will win a second term or not will be whether they can make voters feel richer with better public services in place, not whether the economy grows or businesses perform better. Other issues, like immigration, are secondary.  

Of course, they will also need to control immigration, and building a decent amount of houses would help a lot, but those changes will be meaningless unless the average voter, those outside of political extremes, actively notices their standard of living increasing under a Labour government. 

u/H_Moore25 

Appetite for change

I’m always keen to read Paul McNamee’s editorial letters, so often with wry, sharp, important insights. 

This one delivers on all fronts and the emphasis on climate change is very welcome. Cocoa farmers are certainly among many at the sharp end but there’s more to this important story: exploitative work practices abound. There are companies and organisations pushing back, including Tony’s Chocolonely (yum) and Divine (more yum), the Fairtrade Foundation and Freedom United.  

Must go now – time for another snack… 

Mary Robertson 

Football focus

Barry Pierce asks why there are so few novels about football. Can I recommend Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett? 

This is the story of football fandom in a fictional world, and the metamorphosis of street football into modern soccer. But mainly, it is about two pairs of young working-class friends who support rival football teams. 

Pierce remarks that it shouldn’t be, but is, revolutionary that Alex Allison’s novel Greatest of All Time is about two openly gay footballers. Unseen Academicals features a gay footballer, but this is so uncontroversial that his sexuality is only mentioned in passing. The novel focuses on one of its main characters coming to terms with a much more controversial aspect of his identity than merely being gay. 

For its combination of themes examined through a fantasy lens (racism on grounds of species rather than colour) and themes examined straight (classism, self-realisation, overcoming fears), and, as always with Pratchett, humour and brilliant writing, it is a book to recommend to everyone. 

Elizabeth Belben, Somerset 

Add it up

In 2024, Labour stated they planned to build 1,500,000 homes over the next five years. With small three-bedroom houses costing £150,000 (plus land cost) the government will need to raise at least £225bn over five years. With very many already struggling, only residents with homes paid off might be able to contribute to a housing fund. The October budget planned to increase public spending by £69.5bn; one-third on capital spending, which includes “housing, transport and research and development”.  

Most local authorities have little spare land to build new homes on. Building land in the south of England costs over £1m per acre, in the north, around £300,000 per acre. A builder may place 18 houses per acre. So an additional cost of £50,500 per house in the south and £16,000 per house in the north.  

Following World War II, with many houses bomb-damaged, temporary houses were built on cleared land. In 2025, pre-owned mobile homes might be procured to support the building of a large number of houses over several years. 

I support the establishment of a housing fund inviting contributions from those not struggling. No one in England should be homeless and none sleeping rough. 

Jonathan Clark, Bournemouth 

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