Is shifting the Overton Window the most important thing in politics?

By Overtone Window, I mean terms of debate and what can reasonably be contested in mainstream politics. Two years ago in the UK general election, both major parties accepted the terms of austerity economics. Immoral and economically illiterate though this was in my opinion, Labour felt compelled to accept the idea that cutting our already small welfare state would be a magic trick to solve our systemic economic problems.

In the 2017 election, Corbyn's Labour fought on a clear anti-austerity platform and increased its vote share by 10%, forcing the Conservatives into a weak minority Government. Now the Conservatives are divided about strategy and whether they need to adapt to Labour's ideas. This is a victory of sorts and in was achieved by bravely contesting political ground in order to change it.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/01/top-tories-revolt-against-may-public-spending

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SW-User

There are a lot of career Tories looking at their crumbling majorities and eying up the wide open spaces of the centre ground. It's unlikely that Labour under Corbyn will make any similar moves so it would be interesting to see how another election in the near future would work out. It may be that Corbyn has hit, or is close to his limit. Of course I thought there would be a crushing 100 seat defeat last time so what do I know?

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Onecharmingman: It could be that Corbyn has reached his peak because he has hit a perfect spot of galvanising the young but doing just enough for liberals not to be scared off from voting Labour. Next time people will be voting for him as PM, which is another step. The next Tory election campaign can't be as bad as the last one and they will have a different strategy.

What works in his favour is that the Tory problems continue to mount. They are currently 6% behind Labour and divisions are opening up. As the Brexit shambles goes on things have the potential to get worse for them.

My point here though is that Corbyn has already shifted what is considered centre ground and that counts as a form of victory.

SW-User

@Burnley123: That's true. All through the Blair years I used to wonder whether it would be better to have a Labour party that stayed true to its principles, even if it meant having to operate as an effective opposition.