Corbyn Wins Leadership Race – Again
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Jeremy Corbyn, as was widely predicted, has beaten Owen Smith in Labour’s latest leadership election. The election came following a vote of no confidence by Labour MPs back in June and the announcement has been met with mixed reactions. Corbyn’s followers expressed elation, but others feared the beginning of the end of Labour. Corbyn sceptics have long since stated that he won’t lead the party anywhere but into disrepair, claiming he has neither the leadership qualities nor the support from MPs to lead Labour in the fight against the Tories. However, it is not in the gaps within Corbyn’s skill set that danger lies; it’s within the bickering that has ensued.
In the fallout of Brexit, there have been arguments from both pro and anti sides that a re-vote would be impossible: the public made their decision and we must deal with the consequences to the best of our ability. But apparently this did not ring true when it came to the election of Corbyn as Labour leader. They voted again, with him pitted against a rather different rival (not just those he was out up against, but also a bloodthirsty pack of wild MPs), and he has still come out on top. What needs to happen now, in order to save the party from ruin, is Labour members getting behind Corbyn, whether they like it or not, and dealing with the fact he will be leader for a good deal longer. In the event of Theresa May calling an early election, we need a united front if Labour wants to stand any chance of gaining a majority.
At the minute this looks unlikely, and Labour are very much letting their supporters down. Corbyn may have his faults (traingate will not go entirely forgotten, although I have to say I think his heart was in the right place at the time, and how often can you say that about lying politicians?), but he is doing something right if he has secured a mandate twice in a party election, and with the correct guidance and support he could perhaps do the same in a general election. But this would be impossible if the party were to continue to attempt to buck him off. Let’s hope they have the good sense to put down the fight and work together to prevent self-destruction.