1992 2005 Middle class
Labour 9% 17%
Non-labour 32% 40%
Working class
Labour 26% 19%
Non-labour 33% 24%
Source: www.ipsos-mori.com/_assets/reports/blairs-britain-political-legacy.pdf
I think the core Tory City-hedgerows alliance has always been there. Tories since the early 20th century have always needed a section of the working class to get to power - as you can see, it's a wishful left myth that the British working class mostly votes Labour. The 'euro-skepticism' is, I'm sure just red meat to keep the core Tories and Tory workers salivating. If he tried anything serious about pulling back from Europe, some awkward pictures would surface I'm sure.
--- Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
> So could someone explain the current configuration of British politics
> to me? What's the social base of the Tories vs. Labour (both popular
> and elite)? Where do the City's sympathies lie? The City can't like
> Cameron's euro-skepticism, can it? But it looks like Labour's washed
> up. Is that old alliance of the City and the rural gentry to support
> the Conservatives coming back to life?
>
> Doug
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