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To Remake Britain’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn Might Kill It Political Winner in Britain: Far Right, at Labour’s Expense
(about 13 hours later)
LONDON — In the chaos that has followed Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, the political winner so far has been Nigel Farage, the provocateur who is the leader of the U.K. Independence Party, or UKIP.LONDON — In the chaos that has followed Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, the political winner so far has been Nigel Farage, the provocateur who is the leader of the U.K. Independence Party, or UKIP.
The winning campaign, which focused on the need to “take back control” over Britain’s borders and sharply limit immigration, was effectively Mr. Farage’s. It appealed to voters beyond his loyal followers, whom Prime Minister David Cameron once described as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists, mostly.”The winning campaign, which focused on the need to “take back control” over Britain’s borders and sharply limit immigration, was effectively Mr. Farage’s. It appealed to voters beyond his loyal followers, whom Prime Minister David Cameron once described as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists, mostly.”
Mr. Farage has had his revenge, and Mr. Cameron has announced his resignation and will be replaced as the leader of the Conservative Party.Mr. Farage has had his revenge, and Mr. Cameron has announced his resignation and will be replaced as the leader of the Conservative Party.
And many opposition Labour Party voters, who rebuffed their leadership and voted to leave the bloc, seem to be there for the taking by Mr. Farage and UKIP.And many opposition Labour Party voters, who rebuffed their leadership and voted to leave the bloc, seem to be there for the taking by Mr. Farage and UKIP.
That prospect has terrified the Labour members of Parliament who survived the May 2015 general election, one of the party’s worst showings in decades, which practically wiped the party out in Scotland. They are now trying to depose their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, a man on the far-left fringes of his party since he was first elected to Parliament in 1983.That prospect has terrified the Labour members of Parliament who survived the May 2015 general election, one of the party’s worst showings in decades, which practically wiped the party out in Scotland. They are now trying to depose their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, a man on the far-left fringes of his party since he was first elected to Parliament in 1983.
But Mr. Corbyn will not resign, instead arguing that he has a democratic mandate from party members and supporters, who he is convinced will re-elect him.But Mr. Corbyn will not resign, instead arguing that he has a democratic mandate from party members and supporters, who he is convinced will re-elect him.
That is Labour’s quandary. Its lawmakers seek to be an effective opposition and governing alternative to the Conservatives. To deliver policies for their constituents and the country, they must win power, and they see that goal fading fast under Mr. Corbyn.That is Labour’s quandary. Its lawmakers seek to be an effective opposition and governing alternative to the Conservatives. To deliver policies for their constituents and the country, they must win power, and they see that goal fading fast under Mr. Corbyn.
After the so-called Brexit referendum, Labour leaders cited a poll that the party conducted suggesting that 29 percent of the voters who favored Labour in the last election 13 months ago would not do so again.After the so-called Brexit referendum, Labour leaders cited a poll that the party conducted suggesting that 29 percent of the voters who favored Labour in the last election 13 months ago would not do so again.
But Mr. Corbyn has a longer-term goal than simply achieving power: the transformation of the party into a revolutionary social movement of the working class and the dispossessed, the dream that brought him into politics.But Mr. Corbyn has a longer-term goal than simply achieving power: the transformation of the party into a revolutionary social movement of the working class and the dispossessed, the dream that brought him into politics.
If that ambition requires the sacrifice of many of Labour’s seats in Parliament, they would be acceptable collateral damage to bring about a fundamental shift in the party toward the hard left.If that ambition requires the sacrifice of many of Labour’s seats in Parliament, they would be acceptable collateral damage to bring about a fundamental shift in the party toward the hard left.
In fact, Mr. Corbyn and his top aides — the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and Seumas Milne, a former columnist for The Guardian — have threatened to remove legislators who oppose Mr. Corbyn. They would require all sitting legislators to be selected again by party members in their local constituencies before standing in another election. Mr. Corbyn and his allies have also discussed changing party rules to strip legislators of their party leadership powers and put members in full control.In fact, Mr. Corbyn and his top aides — the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and Seumas Milne, a former columnist for The Guardian — have threatened to remove legislators who oppose Mr. Corbyn. They would require all sitting legislators to be selected again by party members in their local constituencies before standing in another election. Mr. Corbyn and his allies have also discussed changing party rules to strip legislators of their party leadership powers and put members in full control.
Mr. Corbyn has never changed his views, which are essentially pacifist and Marxist. And the Labour Party he represented in 1983 was a trade-union-dominated Socialist party, committed to unilateral nuclear disarmament and “the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange.”Mr. Corbyn has never changed his views, which are essentially pacifist and Marxist. And the Labour Party he represented in 1983 was a trade-union-dominated Socialist party, committed to unilateral nuclear disarmament and “the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange.”
Over the years, the party moved toward the center, most notably under the last Labour prime minister to win an election (let alone three), Tony Blair.Over the years, the party moved toward the center, most notably under the last Labour prime minister to win an election (let alone three), Tony Blair.
Mr. Corbyn has expressed contempt for Mr. Blair’s centrist politics, which those on the hard left consider little different from the Conservatives, or “Tory-lite.”Mr. Corbyn has expressed contempt for Mr. Blair’s centrist politics, which those on the hard left consider little different from the Conservatives, or “Tory-lite.”
“I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60 percent of Labour members and supporters,” Mr. Corbyn said this week, “and I will not betray them by resigning.”“I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60 percent of Labour members and supporters,” Mr. Corbyn said this week, “and I will not betray them by resigning.”
Mr. Corbyn won the leadership post in September because of the mistakes of his rivals, and because new rules allowed not just party members to vote in the election but anyone who paid $4 for the privilege.Mr. Corbyn won the leadership post in September because of the mistakes of his rivals, and because new rules allowed not just party members to vote in the election but anyone who paid $4 for the privilege.
That tripled the number of eligible voters to around 500,000. And since the last general election in May 2015, more than 187,000 people joined Labour, bringing total membership to about 390,000, a remarkable increase.That tripled the number of eligible voters to around 500,000. And since the last general election in May 2015, more than 187,000 people joined Labour, bringing total membership to about 390,000, a remarkable increase.
Passionate and committed, they may be enough to re-elect Mr. Corbyn as party leader despite the opposition of the party’s members of Parliament. But as the internal party poll indicated, they are not nearly committed enough to win a general election in Britain. The retreat of Labour from the center ground of British politics is likely to cost the party dearly.Passionate and committed, they may be enough to re-elect Mr. Corbyn as party leader despite the opposition of the party’s members of Parliament. But as the internal party poll indicated, they are not nearly committed enough to win a general election in Britain. The retreat of Labour from the center ground of British politics is likely to cost the party dearly.
Even more troubling for Labour, many of the working-class voters in Britain are not attracted to theoretical or academic socialism. They are angry about immigration and competition for jobs from Europeans with skills and a willingness to work for less money.Even more troubling for Labour, many of the working-class voters in Britain are not attracted to theoretical or academic socialism. They are angry about immigration and competition for jobs from Europeans with skills and a willingness to work for less money.
Many traditional Labour voters are moving in droves toward the far right — to UKIP and Mr. Farage.Many traditional Labour voters are moving in droves toward the far right — to UKIP and Mr. Farage.
This is exactly what has happened to the Socialist Party in France, where workers who have been hurt by unemployment and globalization are voting for Marine Le Pen and the far-right National Front, not for the left.This is exactly what has happened to the Socialist Party in France, where workers who have been hurt by unemployment and globalization are voting for Marine Le Pen and the far-right National Front, not for the left.
Yvette Cooper, who lost the leadership post to Mr. Corbyn last time, and who is likely to run against him again, said that the problem was not just Mr. Corbyn’s administrative incompetence and lack of leadership. “He is losing us Labour support across the country — and particularly in the towns and coal fields that built the labor movement in the first place,” Ms. Cooper said.Yvette Cooper, who lost the leadership post to Mr. Corbyn last time, and who is likely to run against him again, said that the problem was not just Mr. Corbyn’s administrative incompetence and lack of leadership. “He is losing us Labour support across the country — and particularly in the towns and coal fields that built the labor movement in the first place,” Ms. Cooper said.
In Sunderland, in northeast England, which is Labour country, voters overwhelmingly decided to quit the European Union.In Sunderland, in northeast England, which is Labour country, voters overwhelmingly decided to quit the European Union.
“This area is traditionally Labour, but we’re disappointed by Corbyn,” said Michael Wake, a forklift operator. “He doesn’t look like a politician, he looks like some hitchhiker.”“This area is traditionally Labour, but we’re disappointed by Corbyn,” said Michael Wake, a forklift operator. “He doesn’t look like a politician, he looks like some hitchhiker.”
Glenn Crawford, a Labour voter, said that “Corbyn is a nice man, it’s nice to have him on a college debate. But he’s not a leader.”Glenn Crawford, a Labour voter, said that “Corbyn is a nice man, it’s nice to have him on a college debate. But he’s not a leader.”
Alan Liddle, 44, now votes for UKIP. “I lost faith in Labour,” he said. “It’s supposed to represent the working class.”Alan Liddle, 44, now votes for UKIP. “I lost faith in Labour,” he said. “It’s supposed to represent the working class.”
That sentiment was amplified by John Hall, who said: “We’re fed up with Labour. They’re out of touch with the working class.”That sentiment was amplified by John Hall, who said: “We’re fed up with Labour. They’re out of touch with the working class.”
Mr. Farage, however, with a message straight out of the National Front of Ms. Le Pen — anti-elitist, nationalist, anti-immigration, anti-Europe — is reaping the failure of mainstream parties to speak to the concerns and vulnerabilities of the poor and the shrinking working class.Mr. Farage, however, with a message straight out of the National Front of Ms. Le Pen — anti-elitist, nationalist, anti-immigration, anti-Europe — is reaping the failure of mainstream parties to speak to the concerns and vulnerabilities of the poor and the shrinking working class.