JEREMY Corbyn was elected with an almost unprecedented mandate just 80 days ago. He didn’t just edge out Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall, he trounced them. With an incredible 60 per cent mandate he was given the instruction and the support to lead the Labour party authoritively.
Despite the warnings of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and many others, he was elected.
Yesterday many of his supporters will have been wondering when it is he will actually get round to leading.
Politics is often built on compromises and fudges. The very nature of our parliamentary democracy, the dialectic tradition, is that the policy that garners the most support is what passes and becomes law.
Through debate and reason our leader convince others of the worthiness and merit of their proposals. They listen to the reason of the other side and compromise accordingly.
It is telling of his leadership that the compromise Corbyn offers the Labour Party leaves nobody happy.
This is not a free vote. This is a free vote where MPs are also being told what the party policy is. Every MP who votes a different way from party policy is effectively being called a rebel, even though they’ve been given a free vote. It is a nonsense.
Had Corbyn whipped his party then it is likely David Cameron would never have called a vote. Once the canard of air strikes in Syria was out the way, the government would have been forced into finding some other way to try and defeat Daesh.
But because of Jeremy Corbyn, instead of talking about the people of Syria, the hellishness of those thugs and moronic sadists that make up the Daesh death cult, we are once again talking about Labour.
Corbyn promised a new kind of politics and a new kind of leadership. In that he is certainly delivering.
It is clear he inspires loyalty from nobody. Yesterday during his shadow cabinet meeting his shadow secretaries of state were sending out sneaky texts briefing press and leaking information.
Could you imagine David Cameron’s Cabinet doing that? Could you imagine Nicola Sturgeon’s Cabinet doing that? They certainly wouldn’t do it more than once.
Corbyn’s supporters say it is not his fault. The Parliamentary Labour Party are fighting against him – it is the PLP that is costing Labour votes. Again, this is nonsense. Corbyn is the leader of the Labour Party. His party would follow him if he was to show leadership. Indeed, it is arguable that on those rare occasions when he has led, they have.
But after yesterday, Corbyn has little chance of winning anyone’s loyalty. He has squandered what loyalty he already had.
It looks increasingly likely that the UK will go to war. This is because of Cameron’s strength and Corbyn’s weakness.
Jeremy Corbyn allows Labour MPs free vote on air strikes ... so RAF may be in Raqqa by Thursday
Right-wing voices add to chorus of opposition to UK bombing of Syria
Hundreds join 'emergency demos' to protest against plans for air strikes
Letters to The National, December 1: Corbyn's decision on free vote is a mistake
Michael Gray: Bombing is the most dangerous strategy of all
Cat Boyd: Militarily and politically, this war will be a huge mess
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