This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/13/the-guardian-view-on-jeremy-corbyn-victory-now-judge-him-by-results

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The Guardian view on Jeremy Corbyn’s victory: now judge him by results The Guardian view on Jeremy Corbyn’s victory: now judge him by results
(34 minutes later)
No Labour leader since Tony Blair has been given a more decisive mandate to take the party in a new direction than Jeremy Corbyn received on Saturday. But whereas Mr Blair’s win in 1994 was widely foreseen and supported by Labour MPs following the death of John Smith, Mr Corbyn’s victory was not widely backed or expected by anyone at Westminster when Ed Miliband stepped down in May. From today, the great question is the direction in which Mr Corbyn decides to take Labour, and the wisdom with which he approaches that task. No Labour leader since Tony Blair has been given a more decisive mandate to take the party in a new direction than Jeremy Corbyn received on Saturday. But whereas Mr Blair’s win in 1994 was widely foreseen and supported by Labour MPs following the death of John Smith, Mr Corbyn’s victory was not widely backed or expected by anyone at Westminster when Ed Miliband stepped down in May. From today, the great question is the direction in which Mr Corbyn decides to take Labour, and the wisdom with which he approaches that task.
Mr Corbyn’s win speaks to many things. The biggest is the extraordinary excitement which was fired by his campaign and of which he was in some ways an improbable beneficiary. But his victory also reflects lack of enthusiasm for the other candidates and their offers, the failings of the New Labour project, the catalytic effect of radical political change in Scotland and elsewhere following the financial crash, and the impatience felt widely towards what is summed up in the phrase “the Westminster bubble”. It is a grassroots revolt against politics-as-usual, and not just in the Labour party. It is the most astonishing leadership victory in any major British political party in modern times.Mr Corbyn’s win speaks to many things. The biggest is the extraordinary excitement which was fired by his campaign and of which he was in some ways an improbable beneficiary. But his victory also reflects lack of enthusiasm for the other candidates and their offers, the failings of the New Labour project, the catalytic effect of radical political change in Scotland and elsewhere following the financial crash, and the impatience felt widely towards what is summed up in the phrase “the Westminster bubble”. It is a grassroots revolt against politics-as-usual, and not just in the Labour party. It is the most astonishing leadership victory in any major British political party in modern times.
For that reason alone, it is a result which should be accepted with genuine humility by those who are anxious about it. In the campaign, Mr Corbyn said clearly what he believed and what he wants to do; nearly 60% of Labour members and supporters then voted for it. Labour’s internal voting system is not perfect, any more than Britain’s electoral system is. It is a failing that neither the new leader nor the new deputy is a woman. But the voters’ hopes, fears and choices must be respected, in the Labour election just as in the general election. Related: How rank outsider Jeremy Corbyn re-energised a tired party | Letters
For that reason alone, it is a result which should be accepted with genuine humility by those who are anxious about it. In the campaign, Mr Corbyn said clearly what he believed and what he wants to do; nearly 60% of Labour members and supporters then voted for it. Labour’s internal voting system is not perfect, any more than Britain’s electoral system is. It is a failing that neither the new leader nor the new deputy is a woman. But the voters’ hopes, fears and choices must be respected, in the Labour election just as in the general election.
The political consequences of Mr Corbyn’s win will be enormous and unpredictable. There has never been a Labour leader, not even Michael Foot, so explicitly of the traditional left. What that means in 21st-century conditions is far from clear. But the uncertainty should mean that this is a time for all to reflect and weigh the outcome with care and humility. The Conservatives would be wise to do this too, for Mr Corbyn may even enjoy an electoral honeymoon.The political consequences of Mr Corbyn’s win will be enormous and unpredictable. There has never been a Labour leader, not even Michael Foot, so explicitly of the traditional left. What that means in 21st-century conditions is far from clear. But the uncertainty should mean that this is a time for all to reflect and weigh the outcome with care and humility. The Conservatives would be wise to do this too, for Mr Corbyn may even enjoy an electoral honeymoon.
The reasons why the other three candidates failed are at least as significant for Labour as the reasons why Mr Corbyn succeeded. But the idea that disappointed Labour moderates should even be thinking about deposing Mr Corbyn any time in the foreseeable future is an offence to democracy. It is also stupid. He won. They lost. Forget it. The reasons why the other three candidates failed are at least as significant for Labour as the reasons why Mr Corbyn succeeded. But the idea that disappointed Labour moderates should even be thinking about deposing Mr Corbyn any time in the foreseeable future is an offence to democracy. It is also stupid. He won. They lost. Forget it.
The Labour moderates are not the only ones who should show respect and watch their steps. Four months ago, according to all the available data, Labour was battered in the general election for two main reasons: because the voters did not have confidence in Labour’s economic policies; and because they did not have confidence in the party leader as prime minister. Those questions will face Mr Corbyn too. They cannot be evaded or long deferred. Mr Miliband never recovered from his inability to challenge the Tory narrative about Labour’s financial crisis. The equivalent choices for 2020 are already being framed. Mr Corbyn is playing in a ruthless league now.The Labour moderates are not the only ones who should show respect and watch their steps. Four months ago, according to all the available data, Labour was battered in the general election for two main reasons: because the voters did not have confidence in Labour’s economic policies; and because they did not have confidence in the party leader as prime minister. Those questions will face Mr Corbyn too. They cannot be evaded or long deferred. Mr Miliband never recovered from his inability to challenge the Tory narrative about Labour’s financial crisis. The equivalent choices for 2020 are already being framed. Mr Corbyn is playing in a ruthless league now.
Related: For Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, effective opposition and unity are priorities | Letters
Some of Mr Corbyn’s supporters, including some in the unions, may see his triumph as an opportunity to recast the party to their own advantage. But the last thing that Labour needs is a civil war with any resemblance to the terrible internal battles of the late 1970s and early 80s. Those battles split the party and helped cause four successive Labour defeats. They might do that again. So, just as there should be no putsch against Mr Corbyn, so there should be no reselection purges of MPs or a return to the trade union block vote. Mr Corbyn is entitled to look again, carefully and inclusively, at the workings of the Labour party to make it more participatory than New Labour ever permitted. But he should give higher priority to wider electoral and democratic reform. His voters have been fired by a wish for new politics, not old politics.Some of Mr Corbyn’s supporters, including some in the unions, may see his triumph as an opportunity to recast the party to their own advantage. But the last thing that Labour needs is a civil war with any resemblance to the terrible internal battles of the late 1970s and early 80s. Those battles split the party and helped cause four successive Labour defeats. They might do that again. So, just as there should be no putsch against Mr Corbyn, so there should be no reselection purges of MPs or a return to the trade union block vote. Mr Corbyn is entitled to look again, carefully and inclusively, at the workings of the Labour party to make it more participatory than New Labour ever permitted. But he should give higher priority to wider electoral and democratic reform. His voters have been fired by a wish for new politics, not old politics.
A lot could go wrong. Mr Corbyn will face some very big battles very soon. In his first remarks as leader on Saturday he stuck to the ethical messages that made his candidacy successful and attractive – fairness, equality, decency, openness to others. So far, so good. These things matter and will take him some of the way. But big political choices lie ahead on defining issues such as taxation, Britain’s position in the European Union, the future of the United Kingdom, defence and our membership of Nato, and the practical challenges of migration. Here and elsewhere, Mr Corbyn will be profoundly tested. He must be judged by what he says and does on those and other issues of similar size. And judged, for sure, he will be. A lot could go wrong. Mr Corbyn will face some very big battles very soon. In his first remarks as leader on Saturday he stuck to the ethical messages that made his candidacy successful and attractive – fairness, equality, decency, openness to others. So far, so good. These things matter and will take him some of the way. But big political choices lie ahead on defining issues such as taxation, Britain’s position in the European Union, the future of the United Kingdom, defence and our membership of Nato, and the practical challenges of migration. Here and elsewhere, Mr Corbyn will be profoundly tested. He must be judged by what he says and does on those and other issues of similar size. And judged, for sure, he will be.