Corbyn is not the answer for Labour
EREMY Corbyn’s confident performance as he launched his campaign to defend his leadership of the Labour Party was out of character. And there you have the problem in a nutshell. The Labour leader was in buoyant mood as he pledged to tackle inequality and injustice and promised to offer the hand of friendship to his opponents within the parliamentary party, should he be re-elected to lead them in September.
His relaxed air was the kind that comes easily to someone who appears to have the support of more than 60 per cent of Labour party members, and could well be on track for a comfortable victory.
But such confidence, or indeed, competence, has been too rarely seen. From ineffectual performances at prime minister’s questions to invisibility during the European referendum, Mr Corbyn has failed to impress.
His “new kind of politics” may chime with members, but lacks impact nationally and it is telling Labour MPs – who know what it takes to get elected – have no faith in his ability to lead them to victory.
That is before allegations like those of former shadow transport minister Lilian Greenwood are taken into account. Ms Greenwood, who resigned in June, says Mr Corbyn undermined her repeatedly and was not even a team player let alone a team leader.
In fairness, there are good reasons why Mr Corbyn has led hundreds of thousands of people to join or rejoin Labour. Many people warm to his sincerity and the promise of a return to more traditional Labour policy positions. There is an appeal in the leader who denies he is under as much pressure as someone trying to hold down a job while raising children on a low wage.
However he has never been tested in a major election and results in by-elections have been inconclusive.
His success reflects widespread disillusionment with the political establishment. His achievement has been to reconnect Labour with a grassroots turned off by the focus group slickness of New Labour and its successors.
But this achievement will be naught if the party is hampered by an extended period of Corbynism. Even if MPs do rally behind him, Labour is likely to remain in permanent opposition.
Mr Corbyn implied yesterday his internal opponents might find themselves deselected after boundary changes due before the 2020 general election. Some MPs may deserve this – since they have been undermining him since he was elected – while others will see such an approach as vengeful bullying.
Like it or not, someone with aspirations to be prime minister needs presentational skills and charisma. That is not Mr Corbyn.
Neither is it likely to be Owen Smith. Mr Corbyn’s challenger lacks substance and recognition. Leading figures like Harriet Harman, Hilary Benn, Chukka Omunna and Dan Jarvis have not, as yet, stepped forward to save their party.
With the Conservatives riven by division over Brexit, there are crucial issues at stake at home and abroad. When we need a strong opposition at Westminster more than ever before, the Labour Party, is tearing itself apart. Mr Corbyn’s conversion to sudden self-assurance is too little too late.