If there is such a thing as 'working-class' anymore, then yes they are indeed leaving Labour. However, I think this is as much about image and identity as it is about policy.

For sure there are any number of things the govt could do to make life better for the low-paid, starting with housing. But as disillusioned with Labour as I am, the one thing I do credit them with is substantially redistributing wealth. There was no minimum wage in 1997, plenty of jobs less than £2 per hour. The Tories won't repeal it now, but it will rise at a slower rate once they're in power. Tax credits represent huge redistribution, for a similar cost to the Tories previous giveaway to mortgage holders.

Labour never make much of these policies - pathetically scared of upsetting the middle-classes, so now as the economy turns huge swathes of British people have no idea of the difference between Labour and Tories. Of course they may later realise that their tax credits have been abolished, their child benefit levels stalled, their Sure Start centres and after-school clubs closed. Unless someone from the 'left' actually emphasises these things though, few will notice and such cuts will just be put down to the evil political class rather than ideology.

There is a wider cultural disconnect. For want of a better word much of the traditional 'white-working class' feels no affiliation to liberal social policies, and can't relate to the language and personas of the political and media classes. Race and political correctness are major bones of contention.

But we shouldn't be appeasing these arguments, we should be defeating them. Many of the so-called forgotten working-class are now homeowners, skilled workers on good wages. They will earn more than supposedly 'elitist' university lecturers. Drivers moan about the congestion charge hurting the poor, without recognising that the genuinely poor don't have cars. The 'upper working-class' do very nicely out of the welfare state, free education etc, and will do a whole lot worse under the Tories. If they are so begrudging of redistribution to people less fortunate than themselves, then perhaps they need a Tory govt again to remember the facts of political life.

The task for Labour, the party of social justice if nothing else, remains the same as it always has. To represent the interests of those who lack the economic and political power to represent themselves affectively - the poor, vulnerable and low-paid, irrespective of their race or background.

I turned my back on the Labour Party in 1997, having canvassed to get them elected. I'd been a party member for about 12 years. The crunch came when Gordon Brown made a speech saying that local authority workers would have to accept inflation or less than inflation wage rises for the foreseeable future. This was said after MP's awarding themselves a 26% increase in their wages. After 11 years of Labour, I've received my inflation wage rises and I've watched as my pay has decreased and I am slowly moving backwards to reach the minimum wage. I've watched the gap between rich and poor get even wider. Things can only get better, well Mr Brown I'm still waiting! During the Tory years I remember things like the imcome tax allowances changing during the budget. That used to help a bit, and believe it or not during the 18 years the tories were holding local authority workers to inflation wage rises, in 1988 or there abouts we got a wage correction of more than inflation. Don't get me wrong Labour have done this too, but only the MP's got the rise.
I could be tempted back to Labour but they will have to take a reality check. Low wages and high taxes don't mix. Could I remind New Labour, when you lose your core support it is very difficult to get them back. The Tories are still struggling to get theirs back. When your core support turns into floating voters, your in serious trouble. New Labour should waken up and smell the coffee.