Some ice for this burn, please – a great post by ‘Rachael Swindon‘:
There are times when 140 characters simply doesn’t do justice to a situation.
Has anyone else noticed, as soon as Jeremy Corbyn won 2 leadership contests, and made gains not predicted by a single member of the establishment media (or many of his own MPs) in a general election, a particular someone always seems to be keen on making headlines?
Whether it’s to offer their unconditional support, or on the flip side, whether it’s to throw their well-to-do toys out of their pram (that always pulls to the right), there’s always one person who seems compelled to make it all about them.
Popping up on every TV network, every radio station, buzzing around newsrooms like a Rampant Rabbit that’s gone from Panasonic Economy to Duracell Ultra, is Chuka Umunna.
Anybody would think Labour’s (unexpected by most) gains were like a personal defeat for Chuka. If Chuka represents the bright young hope of a now deceased and non-functioning New Labour then it was a defeat. And a damning one at that.
For the best part of 2 years, Chuka, and his band of not very merry, and “f*****g useless” plotters (hat-tip to John McDonnell) told anyone that would listen that Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable.
As the (first?) 2017 General Election campaign got underway a majority of these MPs campaigned to keep their job as an MP, not to form a Labour Government. But while they were thinking about their jobs, Jeremy was thinking about trying to change the world. They underestimated him enormously.
Some people won’t agree with this, but that’s the beauty of opinion: it’s yours, and you’re bound to find somebody with a different one soon.
Jeremy Corbyn and the ‘Corbyn surge’ he inspired kept a large number of these MPs in a job. His enthusiasm for public engagement was a scary prospect for those MPs more comfortable reviewing tomorrows tabloids on Sky, or writing a column on electability in (God help us) The Mail.
If MPs don’t feel comfortable with repaying the hard work Jeremy put in to the result on June 8th then are they really that shocked that deselections are being called for?
Britain needs a strong opposition that is ready-to-govern, not one with sniping from the defeated right-wing of the party. In the interests of constituents (many of whom clearly voted for Corbyn rather than their local Labour candidate), in the interest of the party and its members, and in the interests of a British people that desperately needs a Labour Government, deselections cannot be ruled out.
Nearly 13 million people went out on June 8th and endorsed Mr. ‘Unelectable’.
That is one hell of a mandate and greater than any right-wing MP’s will ever be. If they can’t respect that then how can we, or the electorate, genuinely respect them? In an ideal world we would come together, but grandstanding on individual issues simply to cause division within the party and, more importantly, to promote brand Umunna really isn’t very socialist, is it?
I’m sure Chuka will tell you it’s all about principles. What principles mate? You claimed expenses of 40p (FORTY PENCE), for a pint of milk! Not just once – twelve times! And this was during a time of austerity!
Time and time again the right-wingers told us Jeremy Corbyn was unelectable, that Labour would be lucky to have 150 MPs after the election. With the help of the media, they even managed to talk the public into believing it. You have to wonder how much better he result could’ve been if they were on-board, rather than making up voodoo dolls of Mr. Corbyn in a dark room for the likes of fading-star Fawkes (I think he’s a Tory blogger) to pierce with red hot pokers.
We tried it your way, Chuka and Co. We achieved a poll rating of 26%.
The country didn’t want to back a divided party. The right-wing told us we were on 26% because of Jeremy. Then the election was called. They managed to STFU for a few short weeks (the fear of losing your job has that effect). They didn’t have time to plot, and we could get on with things our way without them dragging us back and look what happens.
The poll that matters most of all saw Corbyn’s Labour hit nearly 40%. Most polls since the general election show the momentum continuing.
You really don’t need to be a polling expert to point out the bleedin’ obvious.
If you’ve enjoyed this post and would like to donate to Rachael, who’s talent as a political meme-maker is unarguable and who has been rated one of the UK’s most politically influential women, please do click here and use the donate button.