ACFM ACFM Microdose: The ‘Radical Realists’ of Mainstream, Labour’s New Faction
Dec 21, 2025
Dive into the inner workings of Labour's new soft-left faction, Mainstream, as the hosts uncover the rise of its 'radical realists.' They discuss the significance of the faction's name and how it sets them apart from Momentum. Listen in on a debate about whether realism empowers or limits radical goals. The episode also explores Labour's longstanding identity crisis, the evolution of its soft left, and the impact of historical splits. Finally, the hosts contemplate the future of Mainstream and the strategic role of factions in left politics.
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Mainstream Defines A Soft‑Left Niche
- Mainstream brands itself as the Labour Party's "radical realists" to claim it represents the party mainstream.
- The group emerged from Compass and Open Labour to offer an organized soft-left alternative to Momentum and the party right.
Radical Realism Is A Strategic Tension
- The slogan "radical realists" signals a tension between pragmatic constraints and ambitious reform.
- Jeremy argues true realism may require greater radicalism to avoid political disaster under neoliberal continuity.
Factions Are Structural, Not Just Toxic
- Factionalism is inevitable in mass parties like Labour and reflects underlying coalitions of social forces.
- Jeremy argues British political culture's aversion to factions weakens internal pluralism and strategic clarity.