Ainsley (director of the progressive policy institute’s center left renewal project) argues that centre left parties like Labour must reconnect with a national identity rooted in shared values to regain credibility with working class voters. She highlights how labour’s pivot toward stricter immigration under Starmer reflects a broader need to address public concerns over housing, services and economic security – without dismissing them as narrow minded or racist. Ainsley emphasises that rebuilding trust requires acknowledging these anxieties and crafting policies that balance openness with tangible benefits for all communities, suggesting that a renewed sense of belonging could become a unifying progressive force.