Corbyn: The Strange Rebirth of Radical Politics

So depressing. The chances of a left wing politician making any headway in British politics is close to zero. The fact that Jeremy Corbyn became elected as the labour party leader took everybody by surprise and almost from day one the right wing Blairites (supporters of Tony Blair) plotted his downfall. (The labour party is the second largest party in the British parliament). Richard Seymour tells how a window of opportunity allowed his stunning election and then recounts the failure of the left in British politics since the formation of the Labour party in 1900. A final section looks towards the future and the possibility for Corbyn’s survival. The book was published before Britain voted to leave the European Community in July of show more this year and so the books worst fears have already come to fruition: The Labour party passed a vote of no confidence in Corbyn and he is now fighting another leadership election.

This was a painful read for me. As a left wing voter I have witnessed the destruction of the Left in British politics first hand. From the failures of the Wilson/Callaghan governments, to the emasculation of the trade union movement, the rabid Thatcher government and then the even more right wing Blair government. Seymour tells the story fairly well assuming that his readers will have more than a passing interest in British politics. In his introduction Seymour states that although the book is written in sympathy with Corbyn, it is not written with any loyalty to the labour party of which he has never been a member. He goes on to say: that allows him to put his finger on the raw nerve of the Labour party: because he believes it is untenable in its present form. This alerts the readers to the fact that the book is much more than just a retelling of events. Seymour provides an analysis of why the left has failed and does so in the context of changing social patterns within the British Isles. Much of what he says rings true for me.

The artillery ranging against the pacifist/socialist Corbyn is indeed formidable. The mostly right wing press has not missed an opportunity to make him a figure of hate/fun/naivety. A majority of Labour MP’s (his own party) have been horrified by his election and have continually hatched plots against him. His chances of making any headway, when capitalism reigns supreme are severely limited and if he ever led the Labour party in an election campaign I have no doubt that they would be heavily defeated. However for the first time since the second world war in British politics he provides an alternative and that was why Labour Party members elected him as their leader. They might even do so again, we will have to wait and see. A four star read for anyone interested in left wing British politics. show less

5* if read, as I think intended, as immanent critique.