Labour Continues to Climb: Latest Corbyn Message

It is heartening news for this blog, which has campaigned for a change of foreign policy since 2009, that at last Labour has had the courage to walk away from the foreign policy consensus which has delivered nothing but misery to millions for over fifteen years. These interventions destroy the fabric of states, leaving a vacuum in which all manner of rebel groups vie for power and in which perverted ideologies of cruel repression with violence germinate and blossom. Not only have we caused suffering to millions but also created a diaspora we cannot cope with.

The Labour manifesto is the most radical for decades, signalling a new way of resolving problems and advancing the common good. This now embraces foreign affairs, including the use of the military to advance political objectives. That is very good news for the country and I suspect very good news for Labour’s prospects on June 8th. According to a poll in today’s Times , the Tory lead over Labour is now down to five points. For Corbyn to speak out took courage in an area where cowardice and self interest tends to dominate, because the truth is too unpalatable to face. He made clear there was no excuse for Manchester and there was no justification for the cruelest act of terrorism thus far in the War on Terror, which he described as a failure, pointing to a different way forward.

It was expected that the Tories would fly into self righteous orbit, putting words into his mouth and meaning  opposite to his message. Yet when the BBC went onto the streets of a South London marginal to gain reaction, they could not find anybody who did not support the views of the Labour leader. The public back this much more than the political establishment, including New Labour. There was another objective too. To provoke May into grandstanding and saying things that were just not true about Corbyn, which replays can confirm. This reinforces the seepage of her ‘trust clever Theresa who knows what to do’ image. Judging by the clip of her on the news last night, she took the bait.