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Sexpot trot? The human virus? The Labour leadership debate is facile Sexpot trot? The human virus? The Labour leadership debate is facile
(about 2 hours later)
It’s recently occurred to me that the Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn – politician, poet, wearer of socks and sandals – might be the most unlikely celebrity of 2015. After all, his name has now passed the venerable lips of Donald Trump, and he recently missed a train at Euston after being mobbed for selfies. While he’s always been a celebrity in our house (I can’t be the only Islington North constituent amused to see our low-key but longstanding MP making the headlines; it’s like seeing a video by your uncle go viral) it’s clear that the rest of the country is now catching on.It’s recently occurred to me that the Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn – politician, poet, wearer of socks and sandals – might be the most unlikely celebrity of 2015. After all, his name has now passed the venerable lips of Donald Trump, and he recently missed a train at Euston after being mobbed for selfies. While he’s always been a celebrity in our house (I can’t be the only Islington North constituent amused to see our low-key but longstanding MP making the headlines; it’s like seeing a video by your uncle go viral) it’s clear that the rest of the country is now catching on.
I know this because “Corbynmania” has all the markings of a media celebrity obsession – every development is swooped on like a cheesy chip pursued by a killer seagull, and there is an over-zealous interest in the man’s attire (it is breathlessly reported that he buys his vests on the market off the Holloway Road). Perhaps most indicative of a confected celebrity cult, however, is the fact that hardly anyone seems to give a toss what he actually has to say.I know this because “Corbynmania” has all the markings of a media celebrity obsession – every development is swooped on like a cheesy chip pursued by a killer seagull, and there is an over-zealous interest in the man’s attire (it is breathlessly reported that he buys his vests on the market off the Holloway Road). Perhaps most indicative of a confected celebrity cult, however, is the fact that hardly anyone seems to give a toss what he actually has to say.
We may be approaching the silly season in the media, but the madness has to stopWe may be approaching the silly season in the media, but the madness has to stop
He keeps trying to engage people on a policy level, and all they want to ask about is his parliamentary Beard of the Year awards (he once described his beard as “a form of dissent” against New Labour) and his membership of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese. The language surrounding the Labour leadership campaign has been glib and stereotypical, even by the standards of British politics, and both sides of the political divide are guilty. I read in the Times this morning – from an amusingly incandescent Philip Collins – of the “stupidity” and “nastiness” of the Corbyn campaign, that his supporters are “idiots”, that he is a “loser”. A nice range of insults for his “narcissistic” followers to add to the pile.He keeps trying to engage people on a policy level, and all they want to ask about is his parliamentary Beard of the Year awards (he once described his beard as “a form of dissent” against New Labour) and his membership of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese. The language surrounding the Labour leadership campaign has been glib and stereotypical, even by the standards of British politics, and both sides of the political divide are guilty. I read in the Times this morning – from an amusingly incandescent Philip Collins – of the “stupidity” and “nastiness” of the Corbyn campaign, that his supporters are “idiots”, that he is a “loser”. A nice range of insults for his “narcissistic” followers to add to the pile.
The lefties are at it too, with the Communication Workers Union announcing that Corbyn is the antidote to the “Blairite” virus. While the CWU stopped short of comparing Liz Kendall to gastroenteritis, Kendall nonetheless told Newsnight she found the comparison “offensive”. Considering the proliferation of dehumanising language doing the rounds at the moment, with our own prime minister comparing actual human beings, many of whom are fleeing military conflict, to a “swarm”, and a police officer describing the removal of a tide of migrants at Calais as “like trying to swat moles”, I’m not sure I’m that fussed about a few politicians being likened to HPV (most people have it a bit, but it’s still not nice).The lefties are at it too, with the Communication Workers Union announcing that Corbyn is the antidote to the “Blairite” virus. While the CWU stopped short of comparing Liz Kendall to gastroenteritis, Kendall nonetheless told Newsnight she found the comparison “offensive”. Considering the proliferation of dehumanising language doing the rounds at the moment, with our own prime minister comparing actual human beings, many of whom are fleeing military conflict, to a “swarm”, and a police officer describing the removal of a tide of migrants at Calais as “like trying to swat moles”, I’m not sure I’m that fussed about a few politicians being likened to HPV (most people have it a bit, but it’s still not nice).
So, readers, consider this a plea, to both sides of the debate, politicians and commentators alike: let’s end the facile language of the Labour leadership race, and a proper discussion of policies. As amusing as it is to see Corbyn described as a “sexpot trot” in the Daily Mail this morning, voters are more concerned about his vision. So, readers, consider this a plea, to both sides of the debate, politicians and commentators alike: let’s end the facile language of the Labour leadership race, and have a proper discussion of policies. As amusing as it is to see Corbyn described as a “sexpot trot” in the Daily Mail this morning, voters are more concerned about his vision.
Related: Jeremy Corbyn’s policies may be popular – but they don’t add up to a platform | Peter HainRelated: Jeremy Corbyn’s policies may be popular – but they don’t add up to a platform | Peter Hain
So few commentators have engaged with Corbyn on a policy level – instead resorting to personal attacks or glowing endorsements – that it is beginning to backfire. The result of all this is a mythology springing up around the man that may prove difficult to penetrate. It was not so long ago that I saw a lady vicar at a Labour meeting compare Corbyn with the Messiah, declaring that there was more than one JC with a place in her heart. Now the Mirror is reporting that he is “bigger than Jesus” in Google search results. We may be approaching the silly season in the media, but the madness has to stop.So few commentators have engaged with Corbyn on a policy level – instead resorting to personal attacks or glowing endorsements – that it is beginning to backfire. The result of all this is a mythology springing up around the man that may prove difficult to penetrate. It was not so long ago that I saw a lady vicar at a Labour meeting compare Corbyn with the Messiah, declaring that there was more than one JC with a place in her heart. Now the Mirror is reporting that he is “bigger than Jesus” in Google search results. We may be approaching the silly season in the media, but the madness has to stop.
What people in this country deserve, and are seemingly crying out for, is a proper debate. Those who are opposed to austerity are no doubt amused to discover upon reading the newspapers that they are now considered “hard left”; it’s strange, but the students, single parents, nans, public sector workers and medics in their scrubs, all of whom I have seen on anti-austerity protests, don’t exactly look like anarcho-communists, but then I suppose people have hidden depths. When I spoke to young Corbyn supporters last week, none of them were all that concerned with his media persona or the civil war within the Labour party or whether or not Mumsnetters find him fanciable; they were interested in his ideals, his vision for society. Whether you think Corbyn is the best thing to happen to the Labour party in generations, or the worst, surely it is time that we look beyond the vest, and hear what he – and all the other leadership candidates – really have to say? What people in this country deserve, and are seemingly crying out for, is a proper debate. Those who are opposed to austerity are no doubt amused to discover upon reading the newspapers that they are now considered “hard left”; it’s strange, but the students, single parents, nans, public sector workers and medics in their scrubs, all of whom I have seen on anti-austerity protests, don’t exactly look like anarcho-communists, but then I suppose people have hidden depths.
When I spoke to young Corbyn supporters last week, none of them were all that concerned with his media persona or the civil war within the Labour party or whether or not Mumsnetters find him fanciable; they were interested in his ideals, his vision for society. Whether you think Corbyn is the best thing to happen to the Labour party in generations, or the worst, surely it is time that we look beyond the vest, and hear what he – and all the other leadership candidates – really have to say?