Corbyn’s policies more popular than Miliband’s

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Back in July British Green Party leader Natalie Bennett welcomed the Jeremy Corbyn campaign as indicative that the country was ready for “massive political change. Just as the rise of Thatcher marked the end of a political era, the combination of the ‘Green surge’ (Green Party membership more than treble what is was a year ago), the rise of the SNP and the support for Corbyn mark the start of a shift to a new political era.” Commenting on Corbyn’s victory on Sunday, Bennett said it showed “how many people support an alternative to austerity economics.”

The British political establishment (including most of the British Labour caucus) thought they could marginalise Corbyn by smearing him as far left, hard left, a Trotskyist, soft on terrorism, you name it. To their shame, our two state broadcasters bought into this, on Sunday calling Corbyn “an admirer of Marxism” (Jessica Mutch, OneNews) and “a supporter of Karl Marx” (Radio New Zealand news).

However, the reality is that Corbyn’s policy platform is more popular than Ed Miliband’s was, with many policies also striking a chord with conservative voters. Polls quoted by the Independent newspaper show this, as elaborated below.

Re-nationalising the railways. Supported by 60% of the population (including 42% of Tory voters) in a YouGov poll. Hardly a radical policy in New Zealand, where we have re-nationalised the railways.

A 50% tax rate on those earning over 150,000 pounds a year. YouGov has 56% of Britons supporting a top tax rate of 75%.

Rent control. 59% support in a YouGov poll.

Opposing the bombing of Syria. 60% also oppose it.

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Cutting tuition fees. 49% support.

A mandatory living wage. 60% support.

Other popular policies are to scrap the 100 billion pound Trident nuclear submarine replacement programme; bringing energy companies into public ownership; a 2.5% increase in corporate tax (which would still leave the rate lower than in New Zealand); opposition to the TTIP (Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership); opposition to fracking; a big green jobs programme; and stronger action on climate change. Corbyn’s call for more support to refugees drew massive applause at a big London rally yesterday.

Unlike Labour to date, Corbyn is also willing to call out the British-backed warmakers, as he did in his Guardian opinion piece yesterday. Not only did Corbyn say that, “Isis is utterly abhorrent and President Assad’s regime has committed appalling crimes.” He went on to say: “But we must also oppose Saudi bombs falling on Yemen and the Bahraini dictatorship murdering its democracy movement, armed by us.”

24 COMMENTS

  1. “Re-nationalising the railways. Supported by 60% of the population (including 42% of Tory voters) in a YouGov poll. Hardly a radical policy in New Zealand, where we have re-nationalised the railways.”

    Yes it was by Labour Clark/Cullen,

    But Kiwirail is now being systematically destroyed and dismantled by Nactional. because Key hates anything remotely connected to what labour has done previously with an unhealthy toxic hate.

    We like Australia need to hold Key in contempt for his deliberate destruction of all Labour policies placed for the benefit of the people and remove him from office with Bull English Key’s side kick who is as destructive and damaging to public good, ad radical Key’s deliberate destruction is as a slash & sell off policies are.

    • Key’s lasted 8 yrs, mad Tony totally alienated the Aussie populace in less than 2yrs – they aren’t prepared to put up with attacks on the populace.
      2 days in and Turnbull is already starting to make people antsy…are Aussies just more attuned to neo lib bullshit?

  2. Corbyn’s policies were mainstream once upon a time. Then Thatcher and Reagan launched neo-liberal “reforms” upon the world, and the gap in wealth has increased by leaps and bounds.

    If human affairs move in cycles, then Corbyn’s policies are due to return as “novel”, and the dilution and eventual dismantling of neo-liberalism will follow automatically.

    If an economic policy does not meet the needs of the majority, people will ultimately shun it. Neo-liberalism does not meet the needs of the majority.

    • The gap between the rich and poor WITHIN countries has increased while the gap BETWEEN nations has decreased. All thanks to international trade.

      So the inequality gap depends on how you view it.

      Either way, the internationalisation of trade was inevitable and unstoppable.

      • “The gap between the rich and poor WITHIN countries has increased while the gap BETWEEN nations has decreased. All thanks to international trade.

        So the inequality gap depends on how you view it.”

        I’m sure the poor will appreciate the dsistinction.

        • Oh thank God for that! I really thought I was poor but now it turns out I’m only relatively poor. Phew!

          Thank you Andrew, I really appreciate the distinction… 🙂

      • The gap between the rich and poor WITHIN countries has increased while the gap BETWEEN nations has decreased. All thanks to international trade
        What you say is true – which is one of the reasons the Green’s oppose FTA in general. Trade between countries should be “fair” not “free”. “Free” is just a mechanism for corporates to export work from one country to another. Quotas and import taxes need to be re introduced – as Savage did in the mid 1930’s – to revitalize industry within this country – which incidentally has since Douglas one of the most lax border controls on goods in the world. Other countries – including Australia, Japan, Canada and the States – are far more perceptive to the dangers of unrestricted access of imports to their overall economy.

      • Considering that all costs are the same then the internationalisation of trade should never happen as trade itself is an added cost. It’s only our delusional financial system that makes it look like China can produce computers cheaper than the US/NZ/UK etc.

      • “So the inequality gap depends on how you view it”.. Wonderful.. So we can have every country in the world equal in that within their borders, there are huge numbers of destitute people as a result of aggressive hoarding of resources, and the wealth generated by those resources?? Sometimes it’s a good idea to run stuff through ones head before saying, or writing it…. I’ve found it’s a good way to avoid looking like a prat…

  3. Pretty basic ‘good sort ‘ stuff, really , isn’t it?

    Its hard to imagine sometimes there are those types of people in this world who would try and derail such things as these that are not only good for the general public but also for people living overseas…

    Really makes you wonder what makes these sadist’s tick at times…

    All power to Jeremy Corbyn.

  4. After being elected as labours leader, it seems like Jeremey Corbyn wants to do politics differently. He has also given a vow to have equal numbers of men and women in his cabinet. This is a huge hint towards how he ‘means business’ from the get go.

    Recently the Telegraph quoted “Labour party has died”. This shows the public think what he proposes is nonsense.

    I don’t believe that Corbyn is going to become prime minister. But I do think that the country deserves the opportunity to take part in a full and sincere debate about the shortcomings of the approaches of both main parties. It’s true that the solutions of the future are not going to be found in the past, which is why I don’t personally believe that Corbyn is the answer.

    If politicians and commentators truly care about the future, they need to opt instead for the harder and more rewarding task of trying to work out what Corbyn’s appeal really means, instead of sneering. It would be a good idea if they examine Corbyn’s appeal and giving sound reasons if they end up rejecting them all the same. Instead, they are already destroying any hope of progress through these interesting times.

    • “For the Conservatives, the deficit is just an excuse to railroad through the same old Tory agenda: driving down wages, cutting taxes for the wealthiest, allowing house prices to spiral out of reach, selling off our national assets and attacking trade unions. You can’t cut your way to prosperity, you have to build it: investing in modern infrastructure, investing in people and their skills, harnessing innovative ideas and new ways of working to tackle climate change to protect our environment and our future.”

      From http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/13/jeremy-corbyn-labour-leadership-victory-vision

      What is so non-electable?

    • And what exactly is the problem with women being half of cabinet?

      Long overdue I’d say.

      Can’t see anything wrong with any of Corbyn’s policies actually.

    • Recently the Telegraph quoted “Labour party has died”. This shows the public think what he proposes is nonsense.

      No, that shows what the Telegraph want people to believe. A major distinction.

  5. “The reality is that Corbyn’s policy platform is more popular than Ed Miliband’s was”

    Since Corbyn’s policy platform has yet to face a general election, that wild claim has not been tested.

  6. Corbyn really has certain elements of the Right worried. Funny thing is that the guy hasn’t even faced a general election!

    Could it be that the political Right are sensing that the mainstream public are tired of the promises of the neo-libs, and are looking for answers elsewhere?

    After 40 years, all we’ve got to show for neoliberalism are a growing wealth/wage divide, less social services, more user pays, more poverty, jobs exported to low wage economies, corporate subsidies, and, well, I guess I could go on. But we get the picture.

    Meanwhile, I laugh at apologists like Andrew (see above) who tries to put lipstick on a pig. I still ain’t kissing it, no matter how much lippy is applied. It’s still a pig.

  7. Heck, any policy that has the Tories and the right wingers screeching like outraged barn owls is a policy for me.

    Could someone please do it over here too?

  8. He didn’t sing the national anthem!
    Turned up at a remembrance day service and (gasp!) didn’t sing the national anthem. A republican. The ghost of Thomas Paine has arisen!

    And he’s some sort of pacifist.

    Of deary deary. What will become of the British arms manufacturers if this this Heathen gets into power?!

    (Given that he’s had 30 years in parliament already someody must have found him electable. Can’t have just been his old mum, can it?)

  9. 100 BILLION POUNDS TRIDENT PROGRAM!!! No wonder the Establishment calls for austerity when the military costs that much!

    Trident is nuclear..the nuclear powers should be scrapping their nuclear arsenals..And good on Corbyn for mentioning Saudi Arabia too. That extremely wealthy country is pulverizing Yemen with American and British weapons…creating more refugees.

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