Jez it is, but gaping battle wounds must be healed
Jeremy Corbyn comfortably won the Labour leadership contest, but the damaging divisions within the party won’t disappear overnight. remember a time when the views of Labour members were so disconnected from voters in marginal seats.
Not to be outdone, Tony Blair accused Corbyn of turning Britain into a one-party state.
As for the man of the hour, Corbyn has been – by his standards at least – in conciliatory mood in recent days, symbolically nurturing an olive tree in his office.
Despite insisting his leadership style would not change if he won, he has repeatedly said he wants to wipe the slate clean and did so again in his victory speech.
Peppered with references to the “Labour family”, he told the few hundred supporters who had travelled to Liverpool for the big moment: “I will do everything I can to bring our party together.
“We have much more in
Owen Smith. common than that which divides us.” And then came the real message. “My responsibility as Labour leader is to unite this party … but it’s also the responsibility of the whole party to work together and respect the democratic choice that has been made.”
For what it’s worth ( and I can’t quite believe I’m saying this), I actually agree with him.
Some former shadow cabinet members have ruled out a comeback unless elections for the posts are reinstated – something Corbyn himself was previously in favour of. But, either way, I don’t see how there’s any choice but to grin and bear it, whether that is from the front or backbenches. In fact, any MP refusing to get on board at this stage – so very firmly past the point of no return – risks failing their constituents.
So, while in one sense nothing has changed, something clearly has to. Because the people … well, Labour members – those who were a l l ow e d to vote – have spoken.
There has been much talk since the EU referendum about the voice of said people.
One thing we’ve all been reminded of since June 23 is that democracy means accepting the result even when you don’t agree with it, even when you are on the losing side.
Thus, in the same way No meant No in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, in the same way Brexit meant Brexit, Corbyn means Corbyn, Jez means Jez.
The king ain’t dead, long live the king.
To be clear, I’m not expecting a rapprochement overnight. I doubt there’ll be much kissing and making up in the coming days.
But as Sly And The Family Stone put it in Everyday People – the track blasting from the conference hall speakers as Corbyn left the stage – “We got to live together.”
Surely, for the good of the party and the country – with a bit of compromise from both camps – this isn’t too much to ask?
Winning the next general election, I suspect, is – regardless of what Corbyn believes or says he believes.
Before trying to recapture the hearts of voters, Labour must first focus on putting itself back together. CREDIT unions across Scotland have been given funding for initiatives to encourage children to manage their money.
Ten credit unions, working in areas including Aberdeen, West Lothian and Stirling, are to receive a share of funding worth nearly £200,000 to set up projects in schools.
Communities Secretary, Angela Constance, said: “This funding will help credit unions set up schemes which will bring maths to life and give children an understanding of the importance of saving and managing money.” A NEW opinion poll provides a mixed picture of Scots’ attitudes to the refugee crisis.
The survey of a 1000 Scots showed a clear majority (60%), believe Scotland has responded well to the refugee crisis.
On the other hand, 47% of Scots agree with the statement that most foreign people wanting to enter the UK “just want to come here for economic reasons” while 58% agree “there are terrorists pretending to be refugees who will enter my country to cause violence and destruction”.