The Labour leadership needs to learn to compromise

By: Toby Gould, Editor

The hard-left is showing its true tendencies – they’re demanding conformity, or else you’ll be blocked out

“Right wing” and “Blairite” are just a couple of words/phrases being thrown in a derogatory way at a number of Labour MPs by Corbyn supporters who are unable to come to terms with the fact that not every MP in the party shares the radical agenda of their recently-elected leader. Since the (extremely prolonged) reshuffle, which saw moderate MPs thrown out of key positions, this pathetic name-calling and bickering has exploded within the party. Labour MPs are arguing and block each other on Twitter, and the red-book-waving shadow chancellor has said there is ‘group within the Labour party who have a right-wing conservative agenda’. This seems to just be the start of it. Moderate and popular views are being consigned to the backbenches (or more obscure shadow cabinet positions) – take a look at what happened to Maria Eagle.

So much for this ‘straight talking, honest politics’ that Corbyn keeps going on about. The hard-left is showing its true tendencies – they’re demanding conformity, or else you’ll be blocked out. Corbyn’s actions are completely contradictory to previous promises by the leadership that Labour is a ‘broad church’. This doesn’t necessarily prove that Corbyn isn’t willing to listen to other view-points - although the evidence does strongly suggest this is the case. However, it does prove that Corbyn in a poor leader. Not only can’t he keep his MPs under control (the number of MPs publicly condemning his key policy decisions and leadership in general is astonishing), but he’s also proved that he will submit to pressure from his core support – the hard-left supporters and trade unions.

To be a good leader he needs to lead the party as a whole. This isn’t done by ignoring the politics of a large number of Labour MPs and supporters (not to mention normal voters), and then by hiding behind his group of hard-left supporters. He needs to compromise with moderate opinions, not only to make his party electable but also put a stop to the childish infighting and name-calling. At the moment, the party appears disorganised and a complete mess. Many of the leader’s opinions conflict with the majority of MPs, and they’re not afraid to let the media know. It isn’t all the fault of Corbyn and his supporters – the moderate MPs need to grow up and focus on convincing their leadership that their views are valid and popular. But more so than this, the leadership needs to wake up and start leading and making amends to unite the party. They want to have ‘one voice’ on key issues. This can’t be achieved by pretending that MPs with different opinions don’t exist.