Jeremy Corbyn Elected Britain’s New Labour Party Leader
Longtime British Labour party MP since 1983, Corbyn was considered a100 – 1 shot for its leadership after declaring his candidacy in June,
on an anti-war, anti-austerity platform, saying:
“This decision to stand is
in response to an overwhelming call by Labour party members who want to
see a broader range of candidates and a thorough debate about the future
of the party. I am standing to give Labour party members a voice in
this debate.”
in response to an overwhelming call by Labour party members who want to
see a broader range of candidates and a thorough debate about the future
of the party. I am standing to give Labour party members a voice in
this debate.”
He promised a “different economic strategy, particularly opposing
austerity” – calling other Labour leadership candidates cardboard
cutouts of each other – failing to offer “a clear enough alternative on
the economic strategy and austerity, and our attitude to welfare
expenditure.”
London’s Guardian called him one of Labour’s “most rebellious” MPs,
defying its former leadership 238 times. According to the Financial
Times, it was over 500 times.
As new Labour leader will he make a difference, or is he Britain’s
Bernie Sanders and Greece’s Alexis Tsipras – a real or phony populist?
Will he run ahead for prime minister on a progressive, anti-war
platform?
Will he stand forthrightly and unequivocally against business as
usual – or simply support cosmetic changes too insignificant to matter?
