Batley and Spen: Keir Starmer's last chance?

<p>Weeks after losing Hartlepool to the Tories, Labour has another major test in the Batley and Spen by-election. This is the constituency once represented by Jo Cox - murdered by a far right terrorist in 2016 - and it's a diverse community. But many voters feel disillusioned with the current main opposition, not least British Muslims, 86% of whom voted Labour nationally in 2019 but who feel that loyalty is not reciprocated. With the controversial George Galloway standing, some are determined to vote for him to give Labour a bloody nose. How much further does Labour's electoral coalition have to fragment as its naturally most loyal voters feel taken for granted?</p><br /><p>I visit the constituency to speak to everyone from George Galloway to Andy Burnham - presumed to be a likely successor as Labour leader - to Kim Leadbeater, Labour's candidate, to local voters to work out what's happening to the opposition - and where that leaves our crisis-stricken country.</p><br /><p>Videographer: Jack Barraclough.</p><br /><p>Help make these documentaries happen here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTJseWdFV05aNkRvRVVNajJ5Qzg1SGJrUmJNUXxBQ3Jtc0ttYzF4QjZkSHpTUzh2SEVkeHBNR1JCTmVtOTN3ZS1BSnNRbmFhZDFWcGcxN1VzLUgwb1Jtd3NMckprd2t3d19iNEhpdW55T2FvOGw0N29SdURGUkdhRkRBZUFNNFNicG5ob1R6VXFKT19qN2lWNFFZaw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fpatreon.com%2Fowenjones84" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/owenjones84</a></p><p>Support this show <a href="http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast" rel="payment" target="_blank">http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast</a>.</p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>