Jeremy Corbyn’s tactical withdrawal from frontline combat should, and most likely will, cost him Labour’s leadership
Throughout the EU Referendum, most Labour MPs endorsed the ‘Labour In for Britain’ campaign. They demonstrated locally, nationally and publically that remaining in the European Union worked best with the party’s principles, of course discounting certain Leave supporters such as Vauxhall MP, Kate Hoey. It is hard to knock the charisma of many of these MPs and their attempts to pool together a collected party image in the face of a fragmented Conservative effort.
Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of this attempted union was half-hearted and delayed, making him seem ambivalent towards membership at best. Although his strategy was understandable, to take a step back and watch the key Tory figureheads wage war on one another, his plans could not have gone more wrong. Now that the UK has made the fateful withdrawal, Corbyn should be held accountable for his inconsistency and for not spearheading the Remain campaign, accepting resignation along with the Prime Minister.
Stockport MP Ann Coffey and Barking MP Margaret Hodge, have on Friday began the process of a No Confidence movement against the Labour leader — one that will presumably take off and result again in a new leadership contest. Although the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer says that Corbyn will very much remain at the top of the Labour Party, McDonnell’s optimism is somewhat unlikely to pay off. Students form the basis of much of Corbyn’s popularity, and students are the ones presently feeling the most let down by the older generation’s Brexit victory, and seeking someone to blame.
It is this blend of student dependence and student dissatisfaction that will cost Corbyn his popularity — a popularity that he deserves to lose. As Leader of the Opposition you simply cannot afford to take such a backseat in the biggest decision the British public has been given in recent history. Granted, his tactics were understandable, but in the face of failure he should accept realities and take responsibility for not defending the best interests of his party. It begs the question: was Corbyn simply forced into a false pretence of advocating Remain while inwardly disagreeing with it since the first referendum in 1975?
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Joseph Howe
I first began writing for Shout Out UK in November 2015 while in my first year at university. In February 2016, while studying at the Charles University of Prague I was appointed SOUK's Politics Columnist. Since then, I have conducted interviews with MPs and civil rights activists from the U.K. and other places in Europe.
Since graduating from the University of Liverpool, I have taught current affairs in two colleges in Vienna, and am about to start a new adventure in the Houses of Parliament. Among other things, I love to travel and enjoy a very hectic social life.
