Reassessing Corbynism: success, contradictions and a difficult path ahead

[Denzil_DC]

10. Thanks, T_i_B.

"Promising a cruise ship when all they really have is a rubber dinghy" is very catchy!

There is some good stuff in Labour's platform, and I can now think of a number of their front-bench MPs who've impressed me so far (which is a step forward from a year or so ago): Emily Thornberry (despite the "white can man" debacle demonization a while back), Angela Raynor, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Barry Gardiner all had good election campaigns.

Unfortunately there are also aspects of the Labour platform, as the article points out, that are either terrible or don't stand up to any scrutiny and don't make sense, except as wishful thinking. And the Shadow Cabinet members who've impressed me are mixed in with the likes of Tom Watson and John McDonnell, who I have no time for whatsoever - he's a total liability, and I hope Starmer replaces him (fat chance unless Corbyn's hand's forced, and I can't see that happening any time soon).

And as for the new Shadow Scottish Secretary, well, it just shows you what happens when "paper candidates" unexpectedly win:

She, apparently, was the pick of the Scottish crop!

The differences I think you and I - and the article in the OP - are highlighting are between a party of opposition and a potential party of government.