Re: Jeremy Corbyn | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

tjj Jun 17, 2015 09:26:13

Replying to Rhiannon

Have to back you up on this Rhiannon ... my sort of politician and person. Unlikely to be elected as leader of the current Labour Party though - not egocentric or shouty enough and still too much of a true socialist. I would vote for him if I was a member of the Labour Party - which hitherto I'm not.

A short quote from the article:
You have described yourself as parsimonious, haven’t you? “Probably, yes.” How? “Well, I don’t spend a lot of money, I lead a very normal life, I ride a bicycle and I don’t have a car.”

Corbyn seems so distant from modern Labour. Has he ever been close to leaving? “I’ve often been extremely frustrated by the Labour party, particularly over Iraq and, earlier, on Vietnam. Then you think what the Labour party has achieved, and that it is the electoral home to millions of people, so I’m still in it. Always have been. I remember discussing this with Tony Benn many times, and he said: ‘You know, comrade, we’re just in it, aren’t we?’ Tony was a very close friend.”

spencer Jun 17, 2015 11:19:14

Replying to tjj

If he were Labour leader I'd vote for them again. But he won't be : (

Rhiannon Jun 17, 2015 12:38:13

Replying to tjj

"Not egocentric or shouty enough and still too much of a true socialist." so true June, so true.
I've been in a union for years and this week got an email to say since part of my subs go into the political fund wot goes to the labour party I can vote in the leadership election. (I am ashamed to say I'd forgotten I'd chosen to do this with my money, you can choose it to go elsewhere, so when I joined I must have been feeling keener on them than I am now... in my defence I guess it's a way of grass roots making themselves felt up in the rarified air). So this means I do actually get a vote apparently. So he will be getting mine.
Some might feel any shift to the left would make Labour even more unelectable. But unless they do move to the left I can't see any point in their existence. You're not really 'opposition' if you agree with most of the things the vermin say, surely?