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PPI Hosts Deborah Mattinson in DC: Keir Starmer’s Former Chief Strategist Shares Key Lessons for Democrats

Deborah Mattinson, the former head of strategy for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recently visited Washington, D.C., accompanied by Claire Ainsley, Starmer’s former head of policy and now Director of PPI’s Project on Center-Left Renewal. PPI organized a series of high-level discussions where Mattinson and Ainsley shared their expertise on Labour’s victory and its implications for U.S. Democrats.

The meetings provided a unique opportunity for Mattinson and Ainsley to engage with Democratic leaders and strategists, including key staff for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and New Democrat Coalition, to discuss Labour’s approach to winning back working-class voters. The focus was on how a simplified, values-driven message helped Labour connect with voters who had previously shifted toward right-wing populism.

In addition to individual meetings throughout the week, PPI hosted an exclusive evening gathering with prominent Democratic pollsters and political advisors for the Harris campaign, providing an intimate setting for a candid conversation about Labour’s successful voter engagement strategies. Mattinson and Ainsley shared findings from U.S. focus groups, shedding light on the ways in which Labour recaptured support from working-class voters by focusing on economic renewal and cultural unity.

Overall, the trip presented a valuable opportunity to engage with Democrats on how the party might adopt similar strategies to regain the support of disaffected voters similar to those which Labour successfully moved back into their coalition.
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How the lessons of the UK election could help Kamala Harris defeat Donald Trump

By Deborah Mattinson and Claire Ainsley

In a feature that ran in The Observer just before Mattinson and Ainsley arrived in Washington, D.C., the article explored how lessons from Labour’s victory could help Vice President Kamala Harris defeat Donald Trump in the 2024 election. The piece highlighted the core of Labour’s strategy — re-engaging working-class voters by addressing their economic concerns and restoring trust in government institutions. Mattinson and Ainsley, featured prominently in the article, explained that Democrats could replicate Labour’s success by focusing on similar themes and keeping their message simple and direct.

The Observer piece underscored the parallels between the political dynamics in the U.K. and the U.S., noting that working-class voters on both sides of the Atlantic share a sense of economic disenfranchisement.
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What Keir Starmer’s Advisers Told Democrats in Washington

Alex Burns, Head of News at Politico, captured the essence of Mattinson’s visit in a recent article in Politico Magazine. The story delved into how Labour’s winning strategies might inspire Democrats as they head into the 2024 elections. Burns’ piece examined the parallels between the two political landscapes and how a values-based message can be crucial for engaging swing voters.
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U.K. Labour strategists advise Harris on winning from the center left

The impact of Mattinson’s visit was further amplified by recent media coverage, including an article in The Washington Post. The piece highlighted Mattinson’s insights on the strategies Labour used to reconnect with working-class voters and how these lessons could be applied by U.S. Democrats. The article emphasized the importance of targeting economic and cultural issues that resonate with voters who feel alienated by traditional political narratives.
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Additional Media Coverage

Kamala Harris told to woo ‘hero voters’ by Starmer’s strategist

Deborah Mattinson, who helped Labour’s victory, says vice-president must find policies on inflation and immigration that appeal to the jaded electorate in swing states

Kamala Harris is campaigning like a movie star

Earlier this month, Deborah Mattinson, the former head of strategy for Keir Starmer, met senior Democratic strategists, consultants and pollsters in Washington DC.
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