5/5/25
British Politics: Lecture 11 - Corbyn and Starmer
Jeremy Corbyn
Context:
● New Labour had governed for 13 years (1997-2010).
● Tony Blair promoted a ‘third way’ between left and right – combining a ‘dynamic
economy’ with ‘social justice’.
● Large-scale investment in education and health, but left critics felt not enough was
done to tackle inequality.
● Following the financial crash in 2008/2009, Labour lost the 2010 General Election,
and a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was formed.
● Ed Miliband narrowly defeated his brother, David Miliband, to become Labour leader
in 2010.
● His election represented a victory for the centre-left of the party over the right.
● However, Miliband struggled to convince voters that he was a viable alternative
Prime Minister, and to establish a distinctive direction for the party.
● Following defeat in the 2015 General Election, and internal party report found that
Labour has failed to convince the electorate on the economy, benefits, and
immigration.
Corbyn’s rise to the Labour Leadership
● Jeremy Corbyn was a long-standing ‘hard left’ Labour MP, who frequently rebelled
against the party leadership.
● An accidental aspect to Corbyn’s rise – it was deemed to be his ‘turn’ to be a hard left
candidate for the leadership.
● All the other leadership candidates were strongly ‘new Labour’ – Andy Burnham;
Yvette Cooper; and Liz Kendall.
● Following a demoralising election defeat, and ongoing austerity, many Labour
supporters were looking for an alternative political direction.
● What were the Leadership Selection Rules? New selection rules, based on two
stages. Stage one: nominations amongst Labour MPs; need the support of 15% of
Labour MPs (or 35 out of 232 strong PLP). Result: Andy Burnham 68; Yvette Cooper
59; Liz Kendall 41, Jeremy Corbyn 36; did not endorse 28. Stage two: OMOV vote of
three types – party members; union affiliates; and registered supporters.
● Did the new Leadership Selection rules matter? They diluted the power of Labour
MPs – the old Electoral College gave one third of the total votes to the preference of
Labour MPs. Labour MPs assumed to be more social democratic leaning (anti-
Corbyn) and less socialist (pro-Corbyn). New rules aid the chances of an outsider.
● Leadership Result: Corbyn - 251,417 - 59.5%, Burnham - 80,462 - 19.0%,
Cooper - 71,928 - 17.0%, Kendall - 18,887 - 4.5%.
● Did Corbyn dominate within each type of voter? Yes: Party Members - 121,751 -
49.6%. Registered Supporters - 88,449 - 83.8%. Affiliated Supporters - 41,217 -
57.6%. BUT only 14 out of 232 MPs voted for him (even if 36 nominated him).
Leadership Style
, ● Corbyn’s casual dress, modest approach, conviction and apparent authenticity
attracted support.
● His approach was contrasted with the polished, ‘soundbite’ oriented style of many
mainstream politicians.
● His campaign speeches attracted large crowds, including the support of many young
people – ‘Corbynmania’.
● At times ‘tetchy’ in dealings with the media, and intense scrutiny from right-wing
press.
Party Management
● Many Labour MPs were vocal in their criticism of Corbyn.
● Some Labour MPs refused to serve as shadow Cabinet ministers in 2015.
● Attempted ‘coup’ against Corbyn in mid-2016. First, by mass frontbench
resignations. Second, by holding a confidence motion. Third, by initiating a formal
challenge (by Owen Smith).
● Yet Corbyn (61.8) survived by defeating Smith (38.2) in a second leadership contest.
Anti-semitism crisis:
● Under Corbyn, Labour was accused of not acting sufficiently to deal with expressions
of anti-semitism by party members (see Heppell 2021).
● Naz Shah (MP) and Ken Livingstone (former London Mayor) were suspended from
the party.
● Shami Chakrabarti was appointed to lead an investigation into anti-semitism in the
party. Critics claimed the report was a ‘whitewash’.
● In 2019 the party was placed under investigation by the Equality and Human Rights
Commission, which found ‘serious failings in leadership’.
Key Policy Stances
● Brexit – committed to renegotiating the Brexit deal in 2019, and put the result to
another referendum (though Corbyn himself was thought to have some Eurosceptic
inclinations).
● Establish a National Care Service – free personal care for older people needing help.
● Nationalisation – promoted renationalisation of rail, mail, water and electricity.
● Increased taxation for wealthiest (earning over £80,000); windfall tax on oil and gas
companies.
● Abolish private school’s charitable status; scrap university tuition fees.
● Audit of the legacy of the British Empire.
● A new War Powers Act.
● Reduce voting age to 16.
● Abolish House of Lords, replaced with elected second chamber.
Interpretations of Corbynism:
Represents a possible ideological paradigm shift:
● Challenge to the politics of austerity.
● Challenge to economically stagnant neo-liberalism.
● Challenge to the politics of accommodation associated with ‘New Labour’.
● Move towards a more interventionist state, aiming to reduce inequality.
British Politics: Lecture 11 - Corbyn and Starmer
Jeremy Corbyn
Context:
● New Labour had governed for 13 years (1997-2010).
● Tony Blair promoted a ‘third way’ between left and right – combining a ‘dynamic
economy’ with ‘social justice’.
● Large-scale investment in education and health, but left critics felt not enough was
done to tackle inequality.
● Following the financial crash in 2008/2009, Labour lost the 2010 General Election,
and a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was formed.
● Ed Miliband narrowly defeated his brother, David Miliband, to become Labour leader
in 2010.
● His election represented a victory for the centre-left of the party over the right.
● However, Miliband struggled to convince voters that he was a viable alternative
Prime Minister, and to establish a distinctive direction for the party.
● Following defeat in the 2015 General Election, and internal party report found that
Labour has failed to convince the electorate on the economy, benefits, and
immigration.
Corbyn’s rise to the Labour Leadership
● Jeremy Corbyn was a long-standing ‘hard left’ Labour MP, who frequently rebelled
against the party leadership.
● An accidental aspect to Corbyn’s rise – it was deemed to be his ‘turn’ to be a hard left
candidate for the leadership.
● All the other leadership candidates were strongly ‘new Labour’ – Andy Burnham;
Yvette Cooper; and Liz Kendall.
● Following a demoralising election defeat, and ongoing austerity, many Labour
supporters were looking for an alternative political direction.
● What were the Leadership Selection Rules? New selection rules, based on two
stages. Stage one: nominations amongst Labour MPs; need the support of 15% of
Labour MPs (or 35 out of 232 strong PLP). Result: Andy Burnham 68; Yvette Cooper
59; Liz Kendall 41, Jeremy Corbyn 36; did not endorse 28. Stage two: OMOV vote of
three types – party members; union affiliates; and registered supporters.
● Did the new Leadership Selection rules matter? They diluted the power of Labour
MPs – the old Electoral College gave one third of the total votes to the preference of
Labour MPs. Labour MPs assumed to be more social democratic leaning (anti-
Corbyn) and less socialist (pro-Corbyn). New rules aid the chances of an outsider.
● Leadership Result: Corbyn - 251,417 - 59.5%, Burnham - 80,462 - 19.0%,
Cooper - 71,928 - 17.0%, Kendall - 18,887 - 4.5%.
● Did Corbyn dominate within each type of voter? Yes: Party Members - 121,751 -
49.6%. Registered Supporters - 88,449 - 83.8%. Affiliated Supporters - 41,217 -
57.6%. BUT only 14 out of 232 MPs voted for him (even if 36 nominated him).
Leadership Style
, ● Corbyn’s casual dress, modest approach, conviction and apparent authenticity
attracted support.
● His approach was contrasted with the polished, ‘soundbite’ oriented style of many
mainstream politicians.
● His campaign speeches attracted large crowds, including the support of many young
people – ‘Corbynmania’.
● At times ‘tetchy’ in dealings with the media, and intense scrutiny from right-wing
press.
Party Management
● Many Labour MPs were vocal in their criticism of Corbyn.
● Some Labour MPs refused to serve as shadow Cabinet ministers in 2015.
● Attempted ‘coup’ against Corbyn in mid-2016. First, by mass frontbench
resignations. Second, by holding a confidence motion. Third, by initiating a formal
challenge (by Owen Smith).
● Yet Corbyn (61.8) survived by defeating Smith (38.2) in a second leadership contest.
Anti-semitism crisis:
● Under Corbyn, Labour was accused of not acting sufficiently to deal with expressions
of anti-semitism by party members (see Heppell 2021).
● Naz Shah (MP) and Ken Livingstone (former London Mayor) were suspended from
the party.
● Shami Chakrabarti was appointed to lead an investigation into anti-semitism in the
party. Critics claimed the report was a ‘whitewash’.
● In 2019 the party was placed under investigation by the Equality and Human Rights
Commission, which found ‘serious failings in leadership’.
Key Policy Stances
● Brexit – committed to renegotiating the Brexit deal in 2019, and put the result to
another referendum (though Corbyn himself was thought to have some Eurosceptic
inclinations).
● Establish a National Care Service – free personal care for older people needing help.
● Nationalisation – promoted renationalisation of rail, mail, water and electricity.
● Increased taxation for wealthiest (earning over £80,000); windfall tax on oil and gas
companies.
● Abolish private school’s charitable status; scrap university tuition fees.
● Audit of the legacy of the British Empire.
● A new War Powers Act.
● Reduce voting age to 16.
● Abolish House of Lords, replaced with elected second chamber.
Interpretations of Corbynism:
Represents a possible ideological paradigm shift:
● Challenge to the politics of austerity.
● Challenge to economically stagnant neo-liberalism.
● Challenge to the politics of accommodation associated with ‘New Labour’.
● Move towards a more interventionist state, aiming to reduce inequality.
