Beyond the Patronage State

In 1992 and 1993, the Fabian Society published research into floating voters' attitudes in the South of England.

The results were depressing for the Labour Party, as these crucial "swing" voters felt Labour to be alien to almost all they had come to believe in.

This pamphlet, based on similar research in the South and the Midlands presents a more encouraging picture.

It suggests that the voters feel angry and let down by the Tories and, although Labour is still on probation, they are attracted by Tony Blair and impressed by the evidence that the party is changing.

As well as presenting the findings of the research, the authors make a number of recommendations as to how the Labour Party can turn this promising start into fully fledged support.

These include: revising Clause IV to provide a credible vision of the future; linking "core" values to key policies such as crime, education, employment and health; emphasizing control of public spending and value for money; earning trust by promising only what is clearly deliverable.