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Labour elects far-left leader in British politics shake-up

34 Comments
By SYLVIA HUI

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34 Comments
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May I be the first on this site to congratulate him.

Japan needs a Jeremy Corbyn of its own.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

And may I be the second.

Under the last two Labour leaders in power, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown

They were not 'Labour leaders'. They were New Labour, which is Tory Lite. If Blair is agin him, he warrants a hearing at least.

The fact that people went out and paid their dues to sign up to the Labour Party to be able to vote in the leadership election shows that people want a return to real Labour.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

As above. I don't know how far Corbyn will be able to get agreement on his policies ( his shadow cabinet will be interesting ) but at last Labour has a leader saying something different to the Tories rather than following them as they move even further right.

Corbyn said he would apologise for the filthy war in Iraq if elected. I think that can help us to understand Blair throwing his rattle out of the pram. Nice one, Jeremy.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I'm not, in a fit of sour grapes, going to throw a temper tantrum at my prized Kas Mogul Cushion set, or hissy fit the dining room soft furnishings, that is an impressive victory for Jeremy Corbyn. In an overwhelming manner Corbyn with a landslide 59.5%, humiliated his rivals in Saturdays declaration of labour party leadership contest, simply put Andy Burnham 19%, Yvette Cooper 17%, and Liz Kendall 4.5%, never made it out the paddock, I'm no supporter of five times 'parliamentary beard of the year' winner Jeremy Corbyn brand of Marxist political grave digging by any stretch of the imagination.

A self declared supporter and lobbyist for Hamas and Hizbollah, the Islington north Che Guevara with policies sharply to the left of Syriza in Greece and the SNP in Scotland, a taste of the level of SNP financial mismanagement and competence can be gleamed from the EU Commission suspension of £45m earmarked under the European Social Fund after SNP government failing to explain structural irregularities in spending and accounting practices.

Corbyn simple logic, feed the body politic a populist smorgasbord of fairer taxes, rent controls, sustainable wages, throw in a delectably enticing end to the so called victimization of migrants and of course, the re-nationalisation of railways and utilities, remove all private sector investment in public services, and top it off with 'Corbynomics', support from left wing 'tax' consultant Richard Murphy brand of peoples QE.

Many Economists view QE as the financial addictive equivalence to crack, in its purist form a direct intervention into the bond market to purchase Government debt. One important aspect is a central bank will buy bonds from the secondary market. 'Corbynomics', 'Peoples QE' would envisage the establishment of an National Investment Bank to facilitate the Bank of England a mandate to invest in large-scale housing, energy, transport infrastructure upgrades, in essence the central bank should finance government deficits. Now Article 123 of the Lisbon Treaty directly forbids central banks from printing money to finance government spending.

Richard Murphy insists that his 'National Investment Bank' strategy instrument will act as a 'legal' get around. However this is not the first time EU member states have tried the work around approach to circumvent Treaties, and the European court of justice has and will use all it powers over national parliaments to enforce the spirit of those Treaties punitively, leaving half finish infrastructure projects and expensive refinancing.

Mr Corbyn election success can be attributed, well partly to the 88,449 of the 105,598 new '£3' registered members of the party, but to be fair Corbyn secured 121,751 of the 245,520 votes from the card carrying members. Corbyn won fair and square.

Yesterday New Labour, the Blairite third way mirage fell off its perch, to be replaced I fear with 'Corbyn Chaos' theorem.

Cameron and Osborne, the Burke and Hare of social mobility, need to be kept in check. Labour must not be relegated to the bench as a second rate protest party.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

The fact that people went out and paid their dues to sign up to the Labour Party to be able to vote in the leadership election shows that people want a return to real Labour.

What percentage of the UK population did that? There certainly are some people who want a return to real Labour, they're probably dusting off their donkey jackets right now.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

@itsonlyrockandroll

The Tory-lite offered by Ed Miliband was overwhelmingly rejected at the last election. Part of the reason for Labour's absolute trouncing in Scotland was the SNP offering an alternative to Labour policies geared towards not frightening voters in English swing seats. Burnham, Cooper and Kendal offering something similar have also been overwhelmingly rejected here.

How did Labour's Tory-lite keep David and Gideon in check? Their full frontal assault on social mobility and any remnants of social justice has been countered with exactly what from Labour over the past five years? We'll do basically the same but not quite as bad?

My idea of a healthy democracy is offering an actual choice to the people rather than voting Tory or for parties doing half-arsed impressions of the Tories.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

What's so objectionable about library closures, the bedroom tax, zero hour contracts, shrinking ranges of university courses, and forcing the severely ill to attend eligibility interviews at the benefits office?

Property owners have never had it so good!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Hi Jimizo, Jeremy Corbyn, 'victory', is an overwhelming endorsement from the party faithful knee deep in the dogma of an extreme left wing idealist institution. It's the stuff associated with Russell Brand form of swivel eyed champagne socialism, will never sell to the ideologically resilient Parliamentary Labour Party.

Ed Miliband labour opposition lost the election because of a fundamental failure to understand that defending a perceived life on 'benefits', personally I bulk at the thought, is failing to recognize that traditional Labour voters despise the perception of the 'workshy' culture, 'working classes' are fundamentally hardworking and aspirational, a fact also lost on Jeremy Corbyn. In the solitary confines of a polling booth, heart and minds are not swayed one iota by ideology.

An example is when drilling down the data from Scottish Independence referendum. The 'no' vote succeeded because a hard core of over 55 had already made up their minds a long time before entering the polling booths, that protecting their pensions and keeping the pound was a priority over instability and uncertainly, that's human nature.

To achieve an healthy democracy a labour opposition party need the opportunity to govern, when the conservative ruthless and formidable party political apparatus swings into action the resulting media briefings will split the Parliamentary Labour Party in two.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

'To achieve an healthy democracy a labour opposition party need the opportunity to govern'

Again, you are promoting the idea that Labour should be more like the Tory Party. It seems you want it to move even further right than it was under Miliband. You seem to be promoting the idea that there should be no party of the left ( your posts seem to show that you actually despise the thinking of the left but clearly many don't ). Remember Thatcher's quote that her greatest achievement was Tony Blair? That was far too true. The refrain of 'all the bloody same' from disaffected voters is far too common. I don't want the UK to become like the US with a choice of right of centre and far right with 50% turnout rates ( the support for Bernie Sanders is a refreshing sign that many Americans are sick and tired of this ).

Can Corbyn win or even survive as leader until the next election? I honestly doubt it but yet another half-arsed Tory like Burnham, Cooper or Kendal isn't going to offer anything new to what saw Labour humiliated this year.

Your dislike of the left is fair enough but your idea that those who hold left wing ideas should not have a party which represents them is just plain undemocratic.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Hooray! I'm so glad Corbyn won coz he's got no chance of becoming prime minister! Vote UKIP! All you people are strange who think it's a good idea to scrap trident in such a dangerous era for mankind!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Can Corbyn win or even survive as leader until the next election?

I wonder if that is even his goal. It will be interesting to see who he brings into his shadow cabinet. I think many will be looking for the emergence of some new faces who are outside of the mold of recent Labour Party bigwigs.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Corbyn is fresh air. With luck he will be the new normal. I do not see him as "far left." He is not calling for the immediate overthrow of capitalism at the moment. I see him in the about the same realm as the late Olaf Palma of Sweden. Let us hope that he is elected PM he will stand up to the US. Perhaps the UK will become a sanctuary for dissidents as Sweden--and Canada--were in the 1960s.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

'Hooray! I'm so glad Corbyn won coz he's got no chance of becoming prime minister! Vote UKIP! All you people are strange who think it's a good idea to scrap trident in such a dangerous era for mankind!'

Interesting that you mention UKIP and Trident. Sturgeon is warning that exit from the EU would force another referendum which she could win. Any ideas for Trident's relocation?

I propose Chipping Norton.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Ho Jimizo, Burnham, Cooper or Kendal are a square peg in your ideological round hole, I need to ask your opinion and understanding of the Parliamentary Labour Party? If you think I am being disrespectful I apologize.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@itsonlyrockandroll No offence taken. I was a member of the Labour Party for 15 years and while I'm far from a political scientist or a scholar, I do have some idea of what I'm talking about with regards to the party and how the party works. What opinion or understanding are you looking for here? I hope it doesn't sound like I'm ducking your question but I honestly don't know what you are asking for.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hi Jimizo Well I believe that Jeremy Corbyn will regain labour party seats in Scotland, his problem is unity in the UK, and Tom Watson his deputy leader, it is probably besides the point.

David Cameron will turn to Corbyn in the weeks ahead to snuff out Merkel's EU army., but heaven forbid exit from the EU which I think for this first time has to be considered more than just a 'possibility'.

Eight members of Labours front bench have refused to work work Jeremy Corbyn, the names are irreverent, their actions are a betrayal. I asked because it is imperative that for at least the next 12 weeks Britain's parliament sing for the same hymn sheet, across party political divide.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Looks like Labour is going to lose the next general election.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Reports of Russia warns US of ‘unintended incidents’ over Syria have been headline on Sky News , Merkel EU army will herald a response from the Russian Federation that will have a deceive influence on future foreign policy in the Ukraine. It is imperative that the UK government block Merkels army.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

People are sick of politics and politicians, New Labour was just as Tory as the Tories. People want change and will vote for whoever promises a break from the status quo. Corbyn has engage voters who felt isolated and distanced from other politicians.

Interestingly, Corbyn's policies were anonymously given to random voters who were asked if they agreed with them. Most did.

I agree with most of this list: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34209478

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As with Bernie in the USA the fact is that those that call themselves socialist are more aligned with the voting public and any other set of politicians. Issue by issue in the USA the voters check off progressive values. It is quite sad that voters who do vote for conservatives always get screwed over by them, perfect example is Kansas in the USA and the UK itself.

Reality has a liberal bias and now liberal politicians are being heard at long last despite fox news and dominant mainstream conservative press.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I believe that Jeremy Corbyn will regain labour party seats in Scotland

That remains to be seen. The Scottish Labour Party recently elected a new leader, and she doesn't seem a natural ally for Corbyn. ( I bet they wish they had held that election after this one.) I could imagine that, privately, Corbyn sees the SNP as a better ally than his own party in Scotland in many political areas (Trident, university fees, etc.) Could be interesting.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hi albaleo, Allot will depend on whether Jeremy Corbyn can survive the leadership ambitions of his duty Tom Watson.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@itsonlyrockandroll

I confess that I know little about Tom Watson. From what I read, he seems an ambitious person, so you may be right.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hi Albaleo, In all honesty the nearest I have got to the UK is Paris for 5 weeks in March, secondment to the OECD, the news I pick up is from colleagues and the BBC...

At least from this BBC report Tom Watson appears to be on message ...

Jeremy Corbyn victory: Unite behind leader, Tom Watson tells Labour.....

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34237564

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

'Interestingly, Corbyn's policies were anonymously given to random voters who were asked if they agreed with them. Most did.'

I can remember something similar when Tony Benn died. The media kept using descriptions like 'hard left' or at the very nicest a romantic anachronism or an endearing old trooper. When it was actually pointed out what Benn stood for ( the vast majority of the media of course didn't bother to do this ) you found many of his ideas were actually very popular with the electorate.

The worst offender in the media for me has been the 'leftist' Guardian who've been trying a hit-job on Corbyn for months.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well this Guardian piece reflects a more positive tone

What impact will Jeremy Corbyn have on key issues facing the UK? ........

In a hard-fought battle for Scotland’s centre-left vote, Corbyn’s supporters believe he will re-energise Labour’s disillusioned and fragile support, particularly in urban central Scotland. There is anecdotal evidence he is re-engaging ex-Labour voters who voted yes in last year’s independence referendum

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/13/jeremy-corbyn-key-issues-foreign-policy-defence-scotland-northern-ireland

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Would someone please explain to me that "far right" and "far left" actually means these days?

I'm left feeling as though we are all being herded into some grey area of impotent, non-descript politics by careerists.

Sticking "far-" anything just appears to be a trick to discredit a view someone does not care for.

Is this just far-journalism gone mad?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hi Back@home...I think it is best to start here...I have my own opinions however I think this is a good guide...

Political “Left” and “Right” Properly Defined.......

<https://www.theobjectivestandard.com/2012/06/political-left-and-right-properly-defined/ >

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Would someone please explain to me that "far right" and "far left" actually means these days?

My own interpretation... The left seeks to grant freedom/power/wealth/protection to people through state intervention. The right seeks to grant freedom/power/wealth/protection to people without state intervention. The cynic will say that one leads to a powerful state and the other leads to a powerful cabal of wealthy individuals. In both cases, the poor remain poor.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Far-right is where conservatives around the world seem to be heading out of fear. Far-left is what they perceive the centrists and leftists to be, as it looks really far from their perspective.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Can someone help out a non-British citizen here? When is the next election, and does this guy stand a realistic chance of running for PM then?

I heard something mentioned the other day, about "people's QE". It sounded pretty loopy, and made me think I should eliminate pound sterling from my savings, should his party look likely to win an election.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Fxgai, you have the best part of five years before the next UK general election. Worry about your sterling investments if the banks are nationalised and exchange controls get introduced. You've plenty of time to study international politics.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Thank you SwissToni, great I have 5 years.

This chap will be 71 by then. Makes me suspect that (for better or worse) he won't be around as Labour leader then, but I will stay on my toes.

Worry about your sterling investments if the banks are nationalised and exchange controls get introduced.

That would be far too late for me, thanks.

If this guy gets even a sniff then I will be gone, for I care for my family's financial well-being. I will wish the people of Britain good luck, though!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I always thought left and right alone was no where enough to trully understand of categorize political views, and it needed a second axis of authoritarianism versus libertarianism.

Therefore you'd be able to correlated Left-authoritarianism versus Right-authoritarianism, e.g. Stalin versus Hitler, Gandhi versus Friedman etc.

Almost all politicians in democracies are center these days, tending slightly to center-right.

It's almost always a sign of a bone head when someone comes on accusing one of them, such as Abe, of being extreme right.

With reference to the UK politics, I have not considered how this might apply to Japan or the US yet, there's an interesting analysis of this, here:

https://www.politicalcompass.org/uk2015

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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