He already has to reach out beyond the core Labour vote in his quest to be Britain's alternative Prime Minister, but is failing to convince many of his own voters that he is leadership material. This doesn’t make his party more electable, though the Bliarites claim otherwise, of course. "[401] Asked on Channel 4 News in July 2015 why he had called representatives from Hamas and Hezbollah "friends", Corbyn explained, "I use it in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk," and that the specific occasion he used it was to introduce speakers from Hezbollah at a Parliamentary meeting about the Middle East. A recent poll has confirmed our worst fears – Corbyn polls with a -38 points approval rating, while May – the semi-transparent, wraith-like husk of a leader, trying desperately to mimick Thatcher, yet who sounds like a dull district councillor rather than a PM – polls with a +17 points approval rating. Mr Corbyn's leadership has been safe so far due to grassroots support, but more and more Labour voters are doubting his competence. [84], Following the 1987 Loughgall ambush, in which eight IRA members and one civilian were shot dead by the British Army in a pre-planned ambush of an IRA attack on a Royal Ulster Constabulary base, Corbyn attended a commemoration by the Wolfe Tone Society and stated "I'm happy to commemorate all those who died fighting for an independent Ireland. such as Hilary Benn’s barnstorming speech, Conway’s “Bowling Green Massacre” is a stroke of genius from the alt-right, Boris Johnson should have been sacked long ago. I've previously looked at how he is doing much worse in the general public's view as party leader than Ed Miliband, which bodes ill for his electability given that his predecessor went on to lose the general election. [8][131] In addition, following a rule change under Miliband, members of the public who supported Labour's aims and values could join the party as "registered supporters" for £3 and be entitled to vote in the election. While the prospect of an EU referendum around the corner was unnerving, I felt sure that Corbyn would transform the Remain campaign into a battle, back from the brink, to win the faith of the electorate. I haven't really read as much of Marx as we should have done. [71][36][531] His son subsequently attended Queen Elizabeth's School, which had been his wife's first choice. Yes, we are [paying particular attention to the Jewish community], but if we don't stand up for a minority then nobody on the left should vote for us. 1924. [27], After school,[28] Corbyn worked briefly as a reporter for a local newspaper, the Newport and Market Drayton Advertiser.

He was also criticised by George Robertson, former Labour Party defence secretary, who said "It beggars belief that the leader of the party most responsible for the collective security pact of NATO should be so reckless as to undermine it by refusing to say he would come to the aid of an ally". [375], Corbyn favours the United Kingdom leaving NATO. [530] Following a difference of opinion about sending their son to a grammar school –Corbyn opposes selective education– they divorced in 1999 after two years of separation, although Corbyn said in June 2015 that he continues to "get on very well" with his former wife. [230] The Labour Party had, after the intervention of party lawyers, decided not to submit the report to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. He said that he does not condone the actions of either organisation: "Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? [166] Labour candidate Sadiq Khan won the London mayorship from the Conservatives. [253], On 15 March 2018, Corbyn wrote in The Guardian that "to rush way ahead of the evidence" about Russia's involvement in the Salisbury poisoning "serves neither justice nor our national security" and that responsibility for the attack "is a matter for police and security professionals to determine". The reality is of course that at the last Holyrood election the two parties that did well were the two parties that refused to raise tax or re distribute wealth in any form whatsoever, the SNP and the tories. [139], Corbynmania was the enthusiastic support for Jeremy Corbyn. [29] At around the age of 19 he spent two years doing Voluntary Service Overseas in Jamaica as a youth worker and geography teacher. [361] In March 2019, Corbyn said that he could vote leave in a second referendum, depending on the Brexit deal on offer. On a turnout of 77.6%, Corbyn won the support of 59% of party members, 70% of registered supporters and 60% of affiliated supporters.

[417][418] A Labour spokesperson stated that Corbyn "did not lay any wreath at the graves of those alleged to have been linked to the Black September Organisation or the 1972 Munich killings. How's that going?

suspect SNP are like marmite, people either love them or hate them. [415] A Labour spokesperson said that "a wreath was laid on behalf of those at the conference to all those who lost their lives, including families and children". Corbyn was elected Leader of the Labour Party in 2015. I wrote for the magazine. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has received the worst rating for someone in his post for 60 years according to a YouGov poll which rates him at -8. [378], He has since acknowledged that the British public do not agree with his beliefs that the UK should leave NATO, and instead intends to push for the organisation to "restrict its role".

If Corbyn can’t even comfortably retain seats in concentrated areas, how can anybody expect him to win back the 96 seats to reach the 326-seat goal in order to form a government? [469] Following Salah's successful appeal against deportation, Corbyn said he was looking forward to inviting the cleric to "tea on the House of Commons terrace, because you deserve it". [237] Stephen Bush wrote in the New Statesman that the "report's summary writes a cheque that its findings cannot cash".

[260], Following the 2017 general election, the party faced internal pressure to shift its Brexit policy away from a soft Brexit and towards a second referendum, a position widely supported among the party membership.

[142], A chant of "Oh, Jeremy Corbyn" was adopted as an anthem or chorus by his supporters. [75], During the 1980s, he campaigned on behalf of the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six, who were wrongly convicted of responsibility for IRA bombings in England in the mid-70s. Labour desperately needs a new face, and fast, before we hand the Tories the keys to power for the next quarter of a century.

Jeremy Corbyn receives the worst ratings for a Labour leader in 60 years ... 7:57AM BST 02 Oct 2015. I don’t know who this new face should be, but right now what does seem obvious is this: Laurie Sutcliffe is Co-Founder and Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Slant and studies Politics at the University of Sheffield. [443] In February 2019, he said that "intervention in Venezuela and sanctions against the government of Nicolás Maduro were wrong" and that "only Venezuelans have the right to decide their own destiny". [500] In November 2019, John Bercow, the Jewish former Speaker of the House of Commons and Conservative MP, said that he had known Corbyn for 22 years, did not believe he was antisemitic and had never experienced antisemitism from a Labour Party member. [287][288], Following the Labour Party's unsuccessful performance in the 2019 general election, Corbyn stated that he intended to step down as leader following the election of a successor and that he would not lead the party into the next election. [352] In October 2017, Corbyn said that he would vote remain if there were another referendum. [532] Their second son, Sebastian, worked on his leadership campaign and was later employed as John McDonnell's Chief of Staff. [48] Corbyn said these reports were inaccurate in 2017, telling Sophy Ridge "I read the magazine. [181] He responded with a statement that the motion had no "constitutional legitimacy" and that he intended to continue as the elected leader. [6][519] In July 2016, academics from the London School of Economics published a study of 812 articles about Corbyn taken from eight national newspapers around the time of his Labour leadership election. Only they can change the party". [245] His approval amongst party members was initially strong reaching a net approval of +45 in May 2016, though this fell back sharply to just +3 by the end of the next month following criticism of Corbyn's handling of the EU referendum and a string of Shadow Cabinet resignations. Elections", "Far from being a left-wing radical, Jeremy Corbyn is slouching towards Milibandism", "THE ANDREW MARR SHOW INTERVIEW: JEREMY CORBYN, MP LABOUR LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE JULY 26th 2015", "The Marx Brothers: Jeremy Corbyn joins John McDonnell in praising Communist icon's work", "Jeremy Corbyn backs John McDonnell and says Marx was a 'great economist, "Jeremy Corbyn vows to raise taxes for the rich if elected Prime Minister", "John McDonnell Unveils His First Policy: A £10 Minimum Wage", "What is 'Corbynomics' – And What Might it Mean for Britain?

[337], During the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Corbyn put forward a policy to scrap all tuition fees and restore student maintenance grants. Or China? [214] The BBC's Projected National Vote Share was 38% for the Conservatives, 27% for Labour, 18% for the Liberal Democrats and 5% for UKIP, with others on around 12%. [95], In 1998, he supported and voted for the Good Friday Agreement, saying he looked forward to "peace, hope and reconciliation in Ireland in the future. Contemporary European History 25.4 (2016): 707–727", "Jeremy Corbyn campaigned for release of Embassy bombers", "Jeremy Corbyn campaigned for Israeli Embassy car bombing pair", "Abbott declared support for IRA defeat of Britain", "Police examined Jeremy Corbyn links to pro-IRA group Red Action", "As he reaches 30-year milestone, Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn reflects on his career in politics", "The Birmingham bombings 40 years on: what can we learn from IRA terror?

[496] He organised a demonstration against a 1970s National Front march through Wood Green; spoke on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, noting that his mother was a protester;[497] signed numerous early day motions condemning antisemitism;[498] in 1987, campaigned to reverse Islington Council's decision to grant the planning application to destroy a Jewish cemetery;[499] and in 2010, called on the UK government to facilitate the settlement of Yemeni Jews in Britain. Labour Party. Leader of the Opposition. I well and truly became part of the Corbyinista movement, as did many of my friends. [209] He continued: "Together, arguing for the real change this country needs, I have no doubt this party can win the next election whenever the Prime Minister decides to call it and form the next government.