Gavin Barwell told ITV’s Peston the realignment of the Conservative Party makes it a “harder opponent” for Labour leader Keir Starmer. He said: “I actually think the Labour Party is in a more difficult position than it was in the mid-1980s.
“I think there’s two reasons: I think there’s already been a realignment in Scotland, so it hasn’t got that block of seats it used to have in Scotland.
“There’s a realignment going on in England, which the Conservative Party has embraced and it’s very difficult for Labour.
“And it also feels to me they think they’re against the same old Tories, the Tory Party they’re used to.
“And actually, I think this Conservative Party has moved in their direction on the economy – they’re spending more on public services, got a more active industrial policy.
“It’s a harder opponent than the Tory Party that maybe Labour were used to.”
Labour looks set to lose a key seat it has held since 1964 as locals in the northeast coastal town of Hartlepool vote on May 6 to elect a new MP after former Labour politician Mike Hill resigned.
He was suspended by the party in 2019 over accusations he harassed a woman.
Mr Hill denied the allegations, which will be heard at a tribunal in May this year.
Tory candidate Jill Mortimer is forecasted to beat Labour’s Candidate, Dr Paul Williams, in the polls, which would mark the first time a conservative MP has won in Hartlepool since 1959.
