How is the Labour party similar to the Beatles?

With the leadership hustings taking place in Liverpool last Saturday, it seems apposite to ask the question:

In what ways is the Labour party like the Beatles?

In no ways is probably the correct answer, but if some dates were inserted, 1961 after the Beatles, 2020 after Labour party, answers emerge!

Imagine. The Cavern Club, Liverpool, November 1961. Inside, some of the most exciting music ever heard is being played. The Beatles, with three of the most gifted and creative musicians of the century, with the potential to change popular music for ever in Britain, and perhaps beyond., are on the stage.

But as yet, their appeal is limited, mostly local and in Hamburg.

 Fast forward to Labour, 2020. The potential is here, too, with policies that can change the political scene in the UK, perhaps for ever. Its appeal is also limited. Like the Beatles nearly sixty years ago, fine-tuning is needed, changes in personnel must be contemplated, no matter how difficult (Pete Best was very popular!), but the fundamental basis needs no alteration.

  With Epstein`s arrival, and a little later the influence of George Martin, changes were made which widened the appeal of the Beatles. There was no change of direction needed, just some modifications made in appearance and repertoire. Out went the leather jackets, too threatening;  the cheeky humour had to stay. No telling any audience member to" eff off if they didn`t like it", but still okay to tell a richer audience they could, instead of clapping their hands when "Twist and Shout" was being played, just "rattle their jewellery"!

     As for the music, keep the rockers, and use that unique creativity to come up with plenty of new ideas and original songs. No need to play their own version of every popular song, concentrate on the detail and the execution. 

  Back to Labour. 

. No need to change direction, just some of the personnel. No need to change the main policies, just fine-tune them and reduce their number. Widening appeal is essential, but without getting rid of basic policies which underpin the very fabric of the party - reducing inequality, public ownership, workers` rights, housing and education have to remain as the core of every manifesto.

 Lots of Corbynism must remain, but there has to be fine-tuning, and sadly, the "Pete Bests" have had their day!