They got elected in 2024 after a relentless focus on “hero voters”. Now this isn’t some caped super-hero, saving the world from extinction, but economically insecure voters who placed their trust in Boris Johnson (2019), felt let down and were persuaded to switch allegiances to Keir Starmer in 2024. (There’s an excellent Coffee House podcast talking in more detail about this).

In the podcast there is an interesting discussion on what constitutes “economic insecurity” but it is not limited to traditional blue collar, manual work but also includes clerical roles, call centres, work threatened by AI etc.

So those of us trying to engage with government look for this type of intelligence in order to be able to pitch our messaging. Issues like the cost of living should resonate with politicians who were elected on the backs of hero voters. That’s a conventional way of thinking and it isn’t wrong.

However, a daily national newspaper article last week gave a glimpse into another world. One where policy wonks converse in the echo-chamber of their own and frankly speak an entirely different language to us mere mortals.

Let me give you the full quote, from an ally of the Energy Secretary in the context of the debate around opening up North Sea oil and gas fields:- “Miliband has taken political heat to protect the position and the fact that others like Polanski are calling on him to go further is a sign of how Ed has shifted the Overton Window.” 

No mention of bills, energy security or jobs and public finances, but praise for shifting the Overton Window. Can anyone ever recall a conversation where this expression was used? Before you all now search for the term’s meaning, yes knowledge of its existence is of interest but if that’s the best PR defence of the government’s position, then a new ally is needed.