Corbyn wins Labour election - thoughts? : Hero or Villain

[BVSNet]

On Saturday 24th September, Jeremy Corbyn has won the Labour leadership position with an even bigger mandate than the first time he came in, 61.8%. This is despite a vote of no confidence by his own party, resignations of almost all of his shadow cabinet and being called all sorts of names that sought to challenge not only his political views but his personal attributes, he doesn't "look" like a leader, this last part seems to be have been accepted broadly as a fact now, it shows up ubiquitously in the media.

I would post an article on the topic of Jeremy Corbyn for you but it's difficult to find an objective, factual article. They are either obviously or indirectly pro or anti Corbyn. So one article would not suffice. Personal opinion in journalism has never been more obvious as when looking into the phenomenon that is the Jeremy Corbyn effect in UK politics.

One thing is certain, through Corbyn we have seen arguments on the fundamentals of politics in the UK. What exactly does it mean and should it mean to be a left party? Is Labour actually left wing? Should a political leader tell his electorate what to do and how to think or does he represent what they already want him/her to do e.g. Brexit, where do we draw the line between educating the public and dictating what their opinions should be.

When he won the first time it was said he had achieved the biggest mandate of any politician in history, membership has increased even further since then meaning the losing opponent got more votes than the full membership of other parties.




https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtILC-hWIAAo5UY.jpg

Facts on Corbyn:

Iraq war - against
Trident - against
UK bombing Syria - against
Austerity - against

Perhaps it's a fact of being in opposition but I have found it difficult to find information on what he is "for" and how we would pay for it all.

Get a feel for the man and share your thoughts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJTHcS24j8I

[Macarons]

Corbyn has'nt changed his political views since the 70s which shows principle, but the 70s economy was unstable with high unemployment rates, high taxes and strikes so the fear exists of returning to that. He wants nationalisation of railways and likely the NHS can avoid becoming privatised under him. His higher corporate taxes isn't a bad idea but is it the time for it in this current climate?? Well, I'm glad Im not a politician so I can sleep at night lol

[YummyMummy]

He's a goody two shoes with not much good done, just lots of good things said. Sadly no one likes those types in leadership.

[GalliumerianSlayer]

Bring back old labour.

[zumaale]

He is closer to the founding ideals of the Labour Party than the Centrist New Labour cohort that came to dominate during the Blair years and thereafter.

Nonetheless, he is not pragmatic enough to lead Labour to victory unless he becomes more Machiavellian. Labour needs to reconnect with its working class voters because the Xenophobic rhetoric of UKIP is more a threat to Labour than the Conservatives. Its stronghold in the Midlands/North of England and Wales predominately voted for Brexit and Labour will lose votes in the coming General Election if working class grievances are not addressed but how does one placate them? The EU and immigration are not the main cause of their misery, Globalisation is. The former industrial heartland of Britain lost its importance once it became cheaper to produce goods in Asia and the closure of coal mines by the Iron Lady was the final nail in the coffin. Labour can no longer rally the 'workers' to vote for a socialist cause because the times have changed; they are probably more of them employed in call centres than in heavy industry. A lot of hiss supporters are middle class socialist ideologues but they are a fringe group that cannot win you an election. Corbyn must move closer to the centre in order to attract the masses of floating voters. That being said, anything can happen between now and the next election. For instance, if Brexit is handled poorly and the economy takes a hit, the Tories will find themselves on the back foot because people vote with their stomach.

[Ben Dover]

Corbyn must move closer to the centre in order to attract the masses of floating voters

The game is well and truly up for a Labour party which is centre right. In order for Labour to get back into power it is time to try something else. Provide a genuine centre-left alternative. Win back the people who simply stopped voting as a result of Blarite Labour. Win back the people who switched their vote to UKIP, the Greens or Lib Dem.

Peter Mandleson, Alastair Campbell, Kinnock et al have a major flaw. They have become institutionalised. They think the only way to beat the Tories is to be diet Tory. If the game isn't working for you change the rules of the game. Rather than scrabbling around trying to claw the one million or so votes away from the Conservatives needed to win power why not try and tap into the 33% of the electorate that didn't vote in the last election? The people who have become disenfranchised with politics and view voting as a waste of time. The people who view politicians as empty vessals, in sharp suits, who cannot give a straight answer to any question. Politicians who put the interests of big business and finance before the people.

Call me crazy of you want, but right now I would like to give the guy who has just won two leadership elections and massively increased the Party's membership an opportunity to show how he plans to win an election. Without having to spend most of his time defending himself from attacks by his own colleagues.

[FAH1223]

Amazing how the establishment hates his guts.

They really can't believe that people would support a guy calling for something other than more neoliberalism. The new Labour guys should just join the Tories.

It's the same thing with the progressives or New Deal Democrats in the US vs. the Clinton era moderate Democrats.

[Laxgubatay]

Jamaac Corbyn .

[Ben Dover]

Right now the Labour Party should be setting out its expectations on the Brexit deal. There is nothing from the Government, which leaves a media and power vacuum. It is the perfect opportunity for the Opposition to come in with its list of requirements and to establish them as a baseline against which all government announcements will be judged. It is also a perfect opportunity for the Opposition to demonstrate that it is capable of being a Government post-2020. Send the shadow Brexit Minister and Foreign Secretary to meet EU counterparts to sound out possibilities and understand demands, do some polling of the public to better understand public sentiment, and all the other stuff that the Government should really be doing for itself right now.

[Basra-]

Villain!