A rather twisted argument has been gaining currency within the Labour Party since its defeat in December’s general election. Voiced by the loose grouping of intellectuals known as Blue Labour, this narrative argues that in order to overcome its present difficulties, Labour has to go “blue” — socially conservative. According to Blue Labour advocates like Labour peer Maurice Glasman, the Left needs to embrace the values of “faith, family and flag,” which also means taking a tough stance on migration.

In the 1990s, the Third Way left of Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Gerhard Schröder adopted this copy-the-right attitude on the economy, as seen in the enactment of many neoliberal policies. Now, the post-Corbyn left is being called to do the same on social and cultural issues. Only by shedding its cosmopolitan progressivism and adopting the mores of national conservatism, the argument goes, will Labour be able to reconnect with its traditional working-class heartlands.

Blue Labour first become prominent within the Labour Party after 2011, gaining influence during Ed Miliband’s leadership. Supported by intellectuals like Jonathan Rutherford and politicians such as Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas, it proposed that Labour should urgently seek a new footing in “communities” by engaging with religious groups and shedding progressive cultural values. This was widely credited with steering Miliband toward a hard stance on migration, as in an infamous Labour-branded mug during the 2015 election campaign that promised “controls on immigration.” After Corbyn’s defeat, Blue Labour is making a comeback in the Labour leadership contest, starting with centrist candidate Lisa Nandy.