The debate over Labour’s next leader rumbles on and, New Europe reports, the four contenders represent Labour’s journey from union-backed party of the working class to centrist “New Labour” to crisis-ridden party rejected by an electorate worried about economic hard times. Professor Tim Bale said Labour is seen by many voters “as profligate with taxpayers’ money, too open and generous and permissive on immigration and too kind to people who supposedly defraud the welfare system. None of that might actually be the case, but that is the perception, and perception is reality. That’s the environment in which Labour has to operate.”More »