Progressives should reject this view of the working class as a reactionary force for two reasons.

The first is that by accepting it, they reject their reason for being. Social-democrat parties were formed on the assumption that those who have the least are those who have the most interest in changing things. Reject this and you reject social democracy, and invert the whole political order.

The second is that it’s actually not true.

- Dennis Glover

While a good article with many relevant points, it focuses on how social/cultural issues are overemphasised but doesn’t elaborate on a key lesson that social democratic parties must heed.

Social democratic parties must deliver a socially progressive agenda but they also need to deliver a sense of security for working people through helping them to ensure a good and secure job, affordable housing, quality public services and infrastructure, work-life balance and a sense of community. When you focus purely on post-material issues and ignore or don’t deliver on these everyday concerns about a good and secure life, that’s when the problem arises. Implementing neoliberal policies won’t solve this problem, it will only exacerbate it.