Reflections on the UK Left: Narrative, Leadership Performance, and Imagined Audiences

Abstract

This concluding chapter identifies and reflects on two main themes that emerge from the book. The first of these is narrative and political performance, which is concerned with how politicians define situations, offer visions of the future, and present themselves as the embodiment of these narratives. In turn, such performances must be tailored to the expectations of the audience. This constitutes the second major theme of the book, and it is clear that there is a balance to be struck between the expectations of party supporters and those of the wider electorate. The final section of the chapter considers a number of productive avenues for further research.