The ship continues to sail, dented, damaged, still filled with ‘mutineers' but still guided by its captain. It might seem like a story of a to be doomed 18th century exploration mission but we speak about the ship that is the Labour party. Over the weekend leader Jeremy Corbyn, stubbornly announced that he continue as the leader even if Labour loses the general election adding it would up to the membership to decide if they want him to step down.
Speaking with the Huffington Post, Mr Corbyn said ”The party members control what happens. They will decide one way or another. Let’s not start predicting the results of the next general election, which may be four years away.” Corbyn’s comments came as his ally, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said “Any Labour leader who loses an election usually goes”. While this does not inspire confidence to an already troubled party, Labour MPs who passed the vote of no confidence 172 to 40 believe that en electoral defat could be the only way to defeat him. Corbyn has received 120 nominations from local Labour parties compered to Smith’s 24. The Welsh contender was booed by party members in the capital Cardiff as he faced Jeremy Corbyn in a leadership debate last week.
Labour heavyweights of the past have made bold promises over the years, however Jeremy’s promises might be the boldest of them all. In a bid to unsettle Owen Smith’s campaign, the Labour leader announced a pledge to invest “£500bn in infrastructure, manufacturing and new industries” over a period of 10 years. This announcement overshadow’s Owen Smith’s commitment of £200bn in infrastructure spending over five years. When questioned by reporters of how it would be funded Mr Corbyn indicated by cutting on tax evasion and a growing economy. Mr Smith’s proposal of infrastructure spending is to be funded through government bonds. Corbyn also made a promise to to bring full employment and end private sector involvement within the NHS. He also pledged that his government would build half a million council houses, a number not built since the 1980.
In a further blow to the Smith campaign, a high court judge ruled that the 130,000 people who joined the party since January should be allowed to vote in the ongoing leadership race. Mr Justice Hickinbottom at the high court overturned the Labour NEC decision to stop members who joined after 12th January from having an automatic vote. According to pundits a majority of these new members are endorsing Mr Corbyn. In another key event, Mr Corbyn’s allies secured six out of eight places on the NEC in an internal election, which allows Jeremy Corbyn to strengthen his position.
These events mean Labour Party’s internal turmoil could now continue well beyond the party’s annual conference next month. Senior party figures conceded the leadership contest was highly unlikely to be completed by the end of the conference. It makes it harder for the party to look united in what should be a unity rally. Labour are currently trailing behind the Conservatives by 10 points.