In 1983, the year Jeremy Corbyn was first elected to the House of Commons, the Labour party stood on a platform promising unilateral disarmament, the nationalization of industry, support for a united Ireland and asking the United Nations to referee Britain’s dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. It was a platform later and memorably dubbed the “longest suicide note in political history”.
In 2020, by contrast, the party appears determined to offer the shortest suicide note in political history. It will consist of just two words: Jeremy Corbyn.
In 2020, by contrast, the party appears determined to offer the shortest suicide note in political history. It will consist of just two words: Jeremy Corbyn.
It is hard to over-state Corbyn’s radicalism. So much so, in fact, that any taxonomy of his beliefs reveals a left-winger who might have been created by his opponents. Corbyn is the kind of socialist conservatives dream about running against.
So how did it come to this? How have Labour elected a man who, as chairman of the anti-Iraq war “Stop the War” coalition, endorsed the Iraqi “resistance” and welcomed its attacks on British troops? How has the party chosen as its standard bearer a man who refers to Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends”? Why is Labour now led by a man who, in 1984, welcomed IRA bombers to the House of Commons just two weeks after the IRA attempted to assassinate Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet in Brighton?
So how did it come to this? How have Labour elected a man who, as chairman of the anti-Iraq war “Stop the War” coalition, endorsed the Iraqi “resistance” and welcomed its attacks on British troops? How has the party chosen as its standard bearer a man who refers to Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends”? Why is Labour now led by a man who, in 1984, welcomed IRA bombers to the House of Commons just two weeks after the IRA attempted to assassinate Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet in Brighton?
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