Labour moderates’ complicity in party’s shame through tolerating Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour moderates' complicity in party's shame through tolerating Jeremy Corbyn.
The Crisis in the Labour Party: A Wave of Disgrace and Cowardice
The Labour Party is once again facing a scandal, with allegations of anti-Semitism targeting one of its members. Former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, appeared on the BBC to comment on Jeremy Corbyn’s decision to suspend Naz Shah, an MP who suggested relocating Israel’s population to America. Livingstone defended Shah, claiming she is a victim of the “well-organised Israel lobby” and shocking audiences by asserting that Hitler had once supported Zionism.
These incidents of anti-Semitism, among other chaotic occurrences, have become all too common within the Labour Party. Moderate MPs tend to treat each incident as a distinct problem, failing to comprehend that they are symptoms of a single phenomenon—a direct consequence of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. Since Corbyn’s rise to power, the party has witnessed the thriving of loony and self-destructive views due to the enabling atmosphere generated by his supporters, advisors, and the man himself. His persistent failure to address anti-Semitism is not a mere quirk but a fundamental flaw in his leadership style.
While many moderate Labour MPs acknowledge that Corbyn should be ousted, they argue that now is not the right time. They believe that he must fail on his own terms, allowing the opposition to gather its forces and build a stronger coalition against him. However, this approach reeks of cowardice. It is highly unlikely that the party will become less Corbynite in the future, and John McDonnell, a figure similar to Corbyn, is poised to take over if the current leader steps down. Every day that passes without action diminishes the party’s chances of regaining credibility and integrity, while moderates continue to offer feeble criticism and refuse to acknowledge the systematic crisis engulfing their party.
Joe Haines, a former spin doctor to Harold Wilson and a man well-versed in historical perspective, dubs this inaction by Labour moderates as the “Micawber Syndrome” in a January article for the New Statesman. He describes it as a vain and self-effacing hope that “something will turn up.” Haines urges moderates to declare unilateral independence from Corbyn’s Labour Party, sit separately in the Commons, and proclaim themselves the true heirs of the party’s progressive tradition.
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When confronted with this idea, some moderate MPs admit it is a viable option, but not currently feasible. Many prefer to offer weak justifications about not abandoning the party they love and staying to fight. These responses likely stem from a mix of sincerity and reluctance to risk their own political careers by building a new infrastructure. Interestingly, one sympathetic party insider suggests that MPs will only take action against Corbyn if they face deselection or the prospect of losing their seats. This blatant lack of principle does not bode well for the party.
The truth is that the Labour Party is dying, and every MP who believes they can absolve themselves of responsibility by merely tweeting disapproval is sorely mistaken. Incidents like today’s spectacle will continue to repeat themselves in different forms, further eroding the party’s dwindling self-respect and electoral prospects. Perhaps there is justification for caution leading up to the European referendum, but once the dust has settled, moderates must make their move to oust Corbyn. If they fail, they should seriously consider the Haines solution. There is no reason why, if around a hundred MPs and a significant minority of members leave to establish a Labour Party with integrity, they could not give the Conservatives a run for their money in the 2020 elections. This would not be “abandoning” their party, but rather a move to salvage its relevance and rectify its course.
In conclusion, the Labour Party finds itself in the midst of a grave crisis. In order to survive and potentially thrive in the future, the party needs decisive action and courageous leadership. The time for half-hearted tweets and excuses is over. It is time for the moderates to rise up and redefine the Labour Party’s principles and image. Only then can they hope to regain the trust of the electorate and pose a significant challenge to their opponents.
