Corbyn-supporting Conservatives think they’re being clever; let them.

Wouldn't you love it if Corbyn became Labour leader and changed the whole tone of the UK political debate? But would it wipe the smug grin off Louise Mensch's mush?

Wouldn’t you love it if Corbyn became Labour leader and changed the whole tone of the UK political debate?
But would it wipe the smug grin off Louise Mensch’s mush?

The Tories are getting desperate: Now they’ve mounted a campaign to support Jeremy Corbyn’s candidacy as Labour leader, in the hope that Labour’s membership won’t.

It’s a fairly typical Tory double-bluff – they’re hoping to make Labour Party members think that Corbyn is something he isn’t, simply because they support him.

What they’re actually doing is exposing a serious weakness in Labour’s leader election mechanism – the fact that anybody can pay £3 to register as a Labour supporter and vote, including members of other political parties.

It’s a boneheaded idea that This Writer has opposed. Hopefully Labour’s current leadership will see sense and make appropriate changes. Even a vetting system to ensure that Conservative Party members can’t take part in Labour’s leader election would be a good start!

If Corbyn is elected leader, the Tories reckon he’ll sink the Labour Party. That’s why they say they’re supporting him.

But a large and vocal section of Labour’s grassroots want a left-wing candidate to raise the standard of debate from the current quibbling about nuances of neoliberalism that do nothing for hard-working people or those struggling in the grip of a merciless benefit system.

So go on, Louise Mensch – shout loud your support for Corbyn.

You won’t put anybody off – but you may unwillingly change the shape of British politics for the better.

Follow me on Twitter: @MidWalesMike

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13 Comments

  1. denise clendinning June 16, 2015 at 11:29 pm - Reply

    yes i read in the tory graph this morning that some are paying the 3 pounds to join as they think if they vote for him labour will be unelectable

    • hugosmum70 June 17, 2015 at 11:00 pm - Reply

      well knowing a good few labour supporters who are on benefits but cant afford a monthly amount, but can find the one off amount of £3 i think its a great idea. can see points of views if conservatives ARE doing this n joining and it is a bit bad if labour have to stop the practice because they will also lose support from those people who cant afford to do anything else

  2. Nick June 16, 2015 at 11:39 pm - Reply

    Tony Benn would have been a better overall leader has he had the unique style that made him great.

    Had he been leader up until his death things overall would have fared much better and those sick and disabled that have died in going through welfare reform may well indeed still be alive today

    Dennis Skinner also has tried his best to prevent those deaths as has Michael Meacher but alas with not being leader they have failed

    Michael foot would not have put up with it nor would have john smith so this labour leadership contest has a lot riding on it

    i say the only person that’s needs to be the labour leader is the person that is going to end these premature deaths and if that leader finds that fight to hard to get to grips with then he should not be standing as leader at all as lives are at stake here don’t forget and as Neil kinnock once said you don’t play politics with people’s lives at steak

  3. Chris June 17, 2015 at 12:10 am - Reply

    Jeremy Corbyn’s name is appearing in all the newspapers in the headlines and first paragraph, which is a major plus for ‘brand awareness’.

    Now you say Tory party members are endorsing Jeremy Corbyn.

    Owen Jones is endorsing Jeremy Corbyn.

    Polls show half of those polled want Jeremy Corbyn.

    Whilst ALL the other Labour leadership hopefuls have to share half the poll between them altogether.

    Labour MPs who do not endorse and vote for Jeremy Corbyn, are the ones voting Tory forever in England and Wales.

    But it is funny that New Labour has generated the biggest non-voting rate amongst Lavour voters each election, with Labour voters being the biggest number of those not registered to vote.

    And a Labour leadership hopeful that shall remain nameless, dropped out because he ‘won’ in a Labour voting area in England that had 51 per cent non-voter turnout.

    A record.

    Jeremy Corbyn would be a leader worthy of the name, bringing Labour into an oppositon worthy of the name.

    It is a shame that us, the people, cannot vote for Jeremy Corbyn direct, but then most of us will now be away on holiday in Greece, to spite the EU trying to wipe out Greece by demanding the wages both private and state fall to 4th world levels and pensioners are killed off for paying all their lives into works, private and state pension funds and now having that money half inched by the EU.

  4. Jim Round June 17, 2015 at 10:46 am - Reply

    Trouble is, they know that if Jeremy Corbyn gets voted in as Labour leader, it will be 1983 all over again.

    • Mike Sivier June 17, 2015 at 12:50 pm - Reply

      Best not to prejudge, Jim.

      • Jim Round June 17, 2015 at 1:21 pm - Reply

        I am just speaking from experience.
        The majority of the country has abandoned socialism and become too selfish.
        I remember that many people, your good self included, saud that Ed Milliband’s popularity had increased due to the TV debates, also, because of the “war on welfare” more people would vote Labour.
        It didn’t happen.
        What is needed is a party that gives places like Llandod real hope for the future, with results that can be seen, as that is where the main battle lies.
        Too many towns outside of the big cities are mere shadows of their former selves.
        Too many “here today, gone tomorrow” (to shamelessly quote the late Robin Cook)
        mouth off about changing things, but then fade into obscurity when it doesn’t happen.
        People get fed up of being promised the earth (as SNP supporters will soon discover)
        only to be let down each time.

        • Mike Sivier June 17, 2015 at 11:32 pm - Reply

          More people DID vote Labour!
          Just not enough.
          I agree with pretty much everything else you’re saying here, though.

      • Jim Round June 17, 2015 at 1:33 pm - Reply

        D’oh, not Robin Cook, Robin Day

  5. Rachel June 17, 2015 at 10:59 am - Reply

    AFAIK No need to join or register as a supporter of the Labour Party. Members of affiliated unions E.G. Unite get a vote whatever their political persuasion.

  6. Nick June 17, 2015 at 11:47 pm - Reply

    Labour ideally need a leader like Michelle Obama and am sure if they put their minds to it they could find one

    you cant tell me that in the whole of London there isn’t a person with her skill set

  7. hayfords June 18, 2015 at 9:16 am - Reply

    I support the Conservatives, but I am not a member of the party. I will be joining Labour so that I can vote for Corbyn. Corbyn as leader is the best thing that could happen for the Conservative party. I would expect him to be even more unelectable than Foot if that is possible. Corbyn used to come to talk at my son’s school and when he left all the kids used to fall about laughing at the nonsense he said. By the way, it was a normal state comprehensive.

    • Mike Sivier June 18, 2015 at 9:51 am - Reply

      Good luck with that plan!
      (I’ll tell my reasons for writing that in a new post, shortly.)

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