Despite his socialist beliefs being far from the extreme they are caricatured to be, Corbyn’s policies, while in the right direction, are still too hasty and jarring to attract swing Conservatives in this election.
The pull of the Labour party towards the centre of the political spectrum made sense. James Callaghan’s Winter of Discontent and the economic resurgence under the Thatcher administration ensured left-wing policies came under extreme scrutiny.
However, Thatcher’s policies, infamous for their decimation of the North and promotion of the city, ensured success for the few not the many.
Blair’s new Labour succumbed to the will of the opposition and so the New Labour movement was born, supporting equality of opportunity and the utilisation of the markets to deliver economic efficiency.
Much like Ed Miliband’s attempt to pull Labour back to the left, Corbyn and his party champion policies and causes which aim to return Labour to its roots, and to create government they believe is for the people.
But the shift in ideals from Blair to Corbyn mean that politics within Britain has become increasingly polarised, as countless are left between the two and forced to make a choice.
Consequently, British politics is dangerously stepping closer to the disparity the United States is victim to.
And just like the United States, where it will take a more moderate Democratic nominee to draw on-the-fence Republicans away from Trump, so too the same applies to Britain.
If Corbyn hopes to defeat the Conservatives in his election, he has to ensure that his left-wing populism provides a safe space for those repelled by Johnson’s leadership.
However, his perceived extreme policies, while undoubtedly satisfying a significant amount of the youth vote may deter the remainder.
The abolition of tuition fees would cost up to £13.6 billion by the end of parliament, which Corbyn intends to offset be removing the cost of administration and increasing corporation tax.
Furthermore, the policy of nationalising BT Openreach would effectively end market competition in that sector – and eliminate nearly 181,000 jobs, which have yet to be accounted for. It must be presumed they’d be taken into BT as it would expand.
Labour’s policies are feasible and logical, that much is true. But they appeal to a specific group and alienates those which outside of this group. Perhaps the want of all political parties, but none more extremely than seen in the current climate.
When it comes down to it, Brexit makes up a significant portion of the December 12 election and Corbyn’s refusal to discuss his party’s position on Brexit on encourages the Conservative camp.
It’s not the case that Corbyn is outright the wrong person to defeat Johnson and the Conservatives in this election.
If the debate showed anything, it was the Corbyn appears a far more composed and sophisticated candidate, unafraid to debate in his policies and work towards a more equal Britain.
But it will prove a challenging task if he is to maintain such a web of leftist ideals that will be hard-pressed to attract those disillusioned with the Tories.
Labour’s manifesto isn’t particularly radical, and certainly not be European standards. Government would still have less of a part to play than in a country such as France.
The issue is that it’s arguably Labour’s most radical manifesto of the last 35 years and Corbyn is seeking a shift in ideology so extreme it’s blinded by its hopefulness.
Granted, this is an indictment of the austerity that the United Kingdom has woefully and slowly allowed itself to become subject to, and there is undoubtedly a needed change across the country. While Corbyn envisions that change, he goes too far to achieve it.
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