Alex Massie Alex Massie

Who is to blame for the rise of Jeremy Corbyn? Ed Miliband

Well, look, it’s Ed Miliband’s fault isn’t it? Thrice over in fact. First for winning the Labour leadership, then for leading the party in the way he did and, finally, for leaving the leadership so abruptly.

There are many ways of measuring the funk into which Labour has plummeted but one of the best is to consider that it is now seriously believed, in some quarters anyway, that Jeremy Corbyn might not be the worst choice as leader. Believed, I mean, by sensible people of reasonably sound mind who recognise that Corbyn would be a disaster for Labour and, quite possibly, for Britain. (If you doubt that, consider whether the country benefited from Iain Duncan Smith’s tenure as leader of the Conservative party. Hint: it did not.)

The alternative, after all, appears to be Andy Burnham. Let that sink in for a moment.

Andy Burnham.

Selecting Burnham is just a slower-burning form of denial.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in