New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
9 August 2016updated 09 Sep 2021 11:03am

Jeremy Corbyn’s fans should look up what happened to Michael Foot

Mass movements do not a general election win make. 

By Cory Hazlehurst

Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters argue that he is electable because he can attract large crowds to his rallies. For instance, look at these photos showing an event in Merthyr which  @JeremyCorbyn4PM tweeted on Friday. Corbyn has been able to attract larger crowds than Owen Smith, and he doesn’t even need to offer free ice cream. Over 1,700 people attended Corbyn’s campaign launch at the Lowry in Manchester. It’s Corbyn’s popularity amongst a certain part of the electorate which has caused Labour membership to rise to over half a million. 

Unfortunately, recent British political history demonstrates that getting thousands of supporters to attend rallies is not a sign of electability. If anything, it proves the exact opposite.

Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month
Content from our partners
The role and purpose of social housing continues to evolve
More than a landlord: A future of opportunity
Towards an NHS fit for the future