Class still matters in politics – and until living standards improve, Reform UK will continue to prosper | Larry Elliott

Labour’s response to losing the Runcorn and Helsby byelection was to announce extra funding to spruce up GP surgeries and to hint at a crackdown on student visa applications.

The issues that exercise working-class Britain immigration, the NHS and the cost of living are central to politics.

For the Conservatives , it is an existential crisis since they are unloved for different reasons by voters in the north and south of England .

But Labour , too, faces a challenge, with its massive majority under threat from left and right.

For that to happen, Labour has to fix the economy because while Britain ’s cultural divide is unlikely ever to be healed, a rising tide lifts all boats.