UK elections
Posted: 09 Jun 2017, 22:05
My thoughts. Reasons why Jeremy Corbyn came out a winner:
1) He will now be taken seriously, because no body is laughing now. He is no longer "unelectable". He has shown himself to be a practical politician, an experienced leader who can well be a Prime Minister. A new confidence will drive Labour's attack on the Conservatives from the Left. Corbyn now has the advantage of having more "experience" in electoral campaigning, on what works and what doesn't. He has realized the importance of being charismatic, the importance of energizing the masses with personal appeal.
2) The favourable results will settle once and for all internal Labour party leadership disputes. Labour's grassroots will be even more dedicated. And the top echelon that previously was so treacherous, that had little confidence in him, will doubt him no longer. They will rally behind him next time instead of clipping his wings. The organization will work like a well-oiled machine. Next time, they will blow through the defenses of the Tories that are today buttressed with news and print media supremacy.
3) So much for Tony Blair's "you win from the center" philosophy. Corbyn's Leftist platform did better than Miliband's centrist platform. Corbyn has shown that Leftist demands can be successful at a national level today. Not only is the election outcome a vindication for Leftist ideas in Britain, it is also an inspiration at the international level. Progressive activists should study his strategy of building support around Left-wing policies, the people-management skills he used to neutralize the right-wing in his own party, and the tactical compromises which many would consider opportunism but that nevertheless helped elevate the Labour Party.
The other lesson from the British election: don't trust the polls.
1) He will now be taken seriously, because no body is laughing now. He is no longer "unelectable". He has shown himself to be a practical politician, an experienced leader who can well be a Prime Minister. A new confidence will drive Labour's attack on the Conservatives from the Left. Corbyn now has the advantage of having more "experience" in electoral campaigning, on what works and what doesn't. He has realized the importance of being charismatic, the importance of energizing the masses with personal appeal.
2) The favourable results will settle once and for all internal Labour party leadership disputes. Labour's grassroots will be even more dedicated. And the top echelon that previously was so treacherous, that had little confidence in him, will doubt him no longer. They will rally behind him next time instead of clipping his wings. The organization will work like a well-oiled machine. Next time, they will blow through the defenses of the Tories that are today buttressed with news and print media supremacy.
3) So much for Tony Blair's "you win from the center" philosophy. Corbyn's Leftist platform did better than Miliband's centrist platform. Corbyn has shown that Leftist demands can be successful at a national level today. Not only is the election outcome a vindication for Leftist ideas in Britain, it is also an inspiration at the international level. Progressive activists should study his strategy of building support around Left-wing policies, the people-management skills he used to neutralize the right-wing in his own party, and the tactical compromises which many would consider opportunism but that nevertheless helped elevate the Labour Party.
The other lesson from the British election: don't trust the polls.