The Tory base may be larger than Labour’s, but its vision of Britain’s future is limited, backward-looking and profoundly hostile to all claims of social solidarity and progress. By contrast, the Corbyn-led Labour Party’s radical manifesto, and its direct campaigning style, has drawn tens-of-thousands of young and formerly disillusioned voters into the thrilling business of pursuing political, economic and social change.
Corbyn and the left now need their mandate to clean house within the Labour Party to ensure the loyalty of all MPs to the new left-wing party programme. It is probable a number will simply retire and take job offer from their big business mates rather than be part of a Corbyn-led party. Others may want to start another centrist Blairite type party. But it is the absolute democratic right of members to go through a selection process for MPs before the next election.
The loss of Theresa May’s clear Conservative majority has already rocked conventional assumptions, agendas and elites. The realm of the politically possible has been blasted open – because the electoral support for Corbyn doesn’t just reflect a resurgence for British Labour, it has allowed a publicly popular discussion about a whole different political economy.
Trump’s mix of corrupt capitalism, brittle ego and aggressive neurotic defensiveness makes trying to derive motive from his behaviour extremely difficult, and I think while Comey’s testimony is completely true and factual, the crazy shit that floats through the President’s mind which he can use to defend his comments makes impeaching him successfully an extremely unlikely event.
In short, Paris was a complete failure to begin with because it simply did not go anywhere near far enough. Trump pulling out is the least of our concerns.
So that very same John Armstrong who demanded Cunliffe resign over a bottle of wine that never existed months before the 2014 election is now months from the 2017 election writing Labour off again?
On this grand occasion of a visit by a Trump agitator to New Zealand next week – I speak of the former Fossil Fuel Industry ogre who is tasked with the oh so challenging job of finding a use for and promoting the sale of American weapons around the world – it seems timely to serve up a reminder to let go of America. The European Union is doing it and New Zealand as a country has opportunities to follow suite.
If Corbyn can do the impossible and pull off one of the great political wins of the 21st Century, he will remind every progressive political Left Party around the planet that an economically populist Left wing agenda can win the people over.
Unelected Tory PM Theresa May called an early general election on April 18th, saying that she needed a mandate for Brexit. At the time, it was hailed as a masterstroke and it was assumed the Conservatives would romp to victory. But now … not so much.
Imagine if NZ had a broadcaster with the talent and ability to do this. Imagine if the political lies could be shown up for what they are. Imagine the kind of media landscape and deeper debate we could have if we did.