This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
With the UK general election just around the corner, Boris Johnson's Conservative Party is making a bold gamble to win over lifelong Labour voters. The party's new strategy, which includes a promise to end austerity and increase spending on the National Health Service and education, is aimed at appealing to voters in traditional Labour heartlands.
According to a recent poll, more than 70 percent of Leave voters are backing the Tories, while the Remain vote seems to be split. Mr. Johnson's approval rating has also risen since the campaign began, with fans now outweighing his detractors.
The election will be decided in the traditional Labour heartlands that start in Wales and go through the Midlands and North. Historically, the Tory party has struggled to win over voters in these areas, with the party's reputation often being seen as a dirty word.
However, the Conservative Party is hoping that its new strategy will be enough to win over these voters, with the party's manifesto proposing higher spending on key public services. The slogan 'Get Brexit Done' is also geared towards this message, with the party hoping to deliver on the referendum result and move on from the Brexit debate.
But can Boris Johnson succeed in winning over Labour voters? The party's previous attempts to appeal to these voters have been unsuccessful, with Theresa May's snap election in 2017 resulting in a loss of the party's majority. The Conservative Party's own guidebook warns that many voters may return to Labour on polling day.
Despite these challenges, the Conservative Party remains optimistic that its new strategy will pay off. With Brexit on the line, the party is hoping that Leavers will rally behind Mr. Johnson to deliver on the referendum result.
