Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class

The typical contemporary Labour MP is almost certain to be a university-educated Europhile who feels more at home in the leafy enclaves of north London than in the party’s historic heartlands. As a result, Labour has become radically out of step with the culture and values of working-class Britain.

Drawing on his background as a firefighter and trade unionist from Dagenham, Paul Embery argues that this disconnect has been inevitable since the Left political establishment embraced a poisonous brew of economic and social liberalism. According to Embery, they have come to despise traditional working-class values such as:

• Patriotism
• Family
• Faith

Instead, the Left has embraced globalisation, rapid demographic change, and a toxic, divisive brand of identity politics.

A Path to Revival

Embery contends that the Left can only revive if it reconnects with the priorities of working-class people by:

• Combining socialist economics
• Embracing the cultural politics of belonging, place, and community

Why This Book Matters

This authentic, insightful, and passionate book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand:

• Why our politics has become so dysfunctional
• What the Left can do to fix it

No one who seeks to truly grasp these issues can afford to miss this compelling work.