Labour's new leader Jeremy Corbyn is "one of us" and "passionate", but needs to talk more about the economy and immigration, according to a Croydon focus group.
Following Mr Corbyn's speech at the Labour's party conference on Tuesday, market research company Ipsos MORI ran two discussion groups with potential voters in Croydon Central - a target seat for Labour.
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They were split between those who had voted for Labour in the past, but not at the last election, and those who had never voted Labour.
Writing for the New Statesman, Ipsos MORI's research director Suzanne Hall described how Mr Corbyn's personality impressed Croydon voters, who used words like "believable" and "conviction" to sum up the tone of his speech.
One said: "These are his values, what he stands for - listening to people, letting everyone have their own opinion and debating it."
We've run focus group of ex-Lab voters in Croydon on speech - mixed reaction... results at 6pm Holiday Inn #Lab15 pic.twitter.com/RnhmYj6Hdc
— Bobby Duffy (@BobbyIpsosMORI) September 29, 2015
Another described him as "socialist. Old school. He's from the party of the working man. What do I have in common with someone from the City of London?”
But using his speech to discuss issues like human rights violations in Saudi Arabia and a "social Europe" appears to have alienated many of the participants, who felt Mr Corbyn should have focussed more on the economy and immigration.
Of his economic policy, one participant said: "He painted a nice rosy picture without giving too much detail of how it is going to be done.
Focus gp reaction to speech: after strong start, less positive on substance and concerns abt Jeremy as leader #Lab15 pic.twitter.com/gZOBJrKCsk
— Bobby Duffy (@BobbyIpsosMORI) September 29, 2015
"It almost sounds like he has this magic wand and council houses are going to pop up, and tuition fees are going to be paid, and everyone will have care when they’re elderly."
Another Croydon voter said: "He mentioned everything. He can't make a difference to everything. He should've just picked a few issues."
Croydon Central has been a Conservative seat since 2005, but its MP Gavin Barwell won with just a 0.3 per cent margin in May.
Labour figures like Streatham MP Chuka Umunna have previously said such marginal London seats are key to the party regaining power.
Can Jeremy Corbyn change Labour's fortunes in Croydon Central? Comment below, or write to letters@croydonguardian.co.uk.
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