I've a theory about this, based largely on conversations with friends & family from my working class background in Essex. A lot of people in counties carved up into a million constituencies - Essex is one of them - like Johnson, because they like Tories, and modern Conservatism https://twitter.com/Mc_Heckin_Duff/status/1290687735745982467

For both working and 'newly' middle class voters, Tories give the (false) assurance that the things they paid for via hard work will be protected. There is no discussion of privilege, just 'hard work'. This makes people feel good. They vote for the party that makes them feel good

Tory voters will stay Tory because they don't want a sub-version of the ideology that praises and celebrates them, that says that whatever they're doing is great, and they'll fight anyone who dares threaten that - the 'anyone' being minorities and marginalised people

When Labour veer to the right to appease and win Tory voters, they alienate people who want and/or need socialism. Their voter base is undefined and shaky in a way the Tory voter base is not. Tories stick to their line, and keep strengthening it. This makes them seem 'strong'

When Labour veer to the left, and talk about radical change, they have no chance of winning over Tories because working class means precarity, and so you vote for the familiar or secure. Undefined socialism or radical change - many people just don't want to take the chance

Tories also possess qualities that for many represent authority, power and intelligence - as well as aspiration. When Corbyn looked 'scruffy' people who wanna earn more & buy nice clothes (a big deal when you're poor) don't look to him for an example, but to Tories in designer

Tories wear expensive clothes, go on holiday, joke around & earn big. That's what many people want. In stress of poverty, people often prioritise their own & want the good stuff. Socialism might be the ACTUAL route to latter but we lack an accessible domestic example to prove it

It's really telling that we as socialists spend years reading theory & refining our politics, then wondering why, when we present people only with an end argument and not a line of thought, we don't cut through. We should apply theory to life, but we get it the wrong way around

Tories basically say that if you work hard enough, you'll get there. Wherever 'there' is. There's no benchmark for this yet it makes sense - from practicing languages to becoming CEO - and unlike e.g. socialism doesn't demand self-critique. This is simple and therefore palatable

And this is the point - until the 80s, Essex was site of major wins for worker's rights and a hive of trade union activity. Now it's a Tory haven. Britain has seen many a radical shift in recent years, but to the right, where it's still tied to 'tradition' https://twitter.com/moose_malloy/status/1290914165788495873?s=19