UK’s Labour Party steers far left
Socialist’s election to lead party seen as major shake-up
LONDON – A veteran anti-war campaigner known for his unapologetically socialist views has won a landslide victory to lead Britain’s opposition Labour Party – an outcome that delighted supporters and dismayed others who never imagined he could be elected.
The overwhelming support for far-left lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn, 66, was one of the biggest shake-ups in British politics in decades.
His win Saturday marks a sharp left turn for his party – and will significantly challenge the tone of mainstream British politics, which is now dominated by Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives.
“It’s certainly the most high-profile position an overt socialist has held in British politics since the 1980s,” said Martin Wright, lecturer in history and politics at Cardiff University. “It’s an absolute earthquake. For the last two decades, the center ground has been moving ever further to the right. This moves the frames of reference to the left and opens up an alternative.”
Considered an eccentric outsider and a long shot just months ago, Corbyn won many over with passionate arguments for nationalizing industry, heavily taxing corporations and the rich, increasing spending and ending austerity. Supporters say Corbyn is a refreshing voice in a party that has been moving toward the center ground for far too long.
Under the past two Labour leaders in power, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, Labour shed its commitment to nationalizing industry and wooed big business.
Corbyn’s blunt rejection of that strategy attracted scores of enthusiastic new members and supporters to the party, earning him a rock-star welcome from many young people disillusioned with British politics.
But many senior leaders in the party have warned that Corbyn’s socialist ideas will alienate moderate voters and make Labour candidates unelectable – dooming the party to opposition status and ensuring that the Conservatives stay in power for years to come.
Blair, who led Labour to three consecutive election victories, recently said his party faced “annihilation” under Corbyn.
But cheers and applause erupted in the London conference venue Saturday as it was announced that Corbyn swept almost 60 percent of the vote, far ahead of his closest rival, Andy Burnham, who scored 19 percent. About 422,664 votes were cast.
The politician, who has been a lawmaker for 32 years but never held government office, divides his own party with his radical views even as it struggles to recover from a heavy defeat in May’s national election. Within hours of his victory, several prominent Labour lawmakers announced they would not serve under Corbyn.
In his acceptance speech, Corbyn promised to bring about a more compassionate Britain and tackle “grotesque levels of inequality.”
“The Tories have used the economic crisis of 2008 to impose a terrible burden on the poorest people of this country,” he said. “Poverty isn’t inevitable, things can – and they will – change.”