Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn: A Tale of Leadership and Resilience
After leading Labour into a catastrophic electoral defeat in 2019, Jeremy Corbyn seemed to fade from the public eye. In his place, Keir Starmer, known for his sensible approach, was elected as the new Labour leader. As promised, he swiftly pulled the party towards the center by ousting Corbyn in an anti-Semitism row. This move caused many of Corbyn’s followers to drift away, disappointed that they had missed the chance to implement real change.
Starmer’s landslide victory in 2024 seemed to solidify the belief that a pragmatic, centrist approach to politics was the way forward. However, just a year later, voters are once again embittered, outraged with the government and desperate for change. In the polls, right-wing Reform UK is easily beating Labour. And then, just when it seemed like all hope was lost for the once-powerful Corbyn, he reemerged onto the political scene.
Having been elected as an independent MP for Islington North, Corbyn now stands at a comfortable distance from the dissatisfying Labour government, his disappointing performance in the 2019 election seemingly forgotten. Last week, when he announced the launch of a new political group with the placeholder name “yourparty.uk,” over 600,000 people signed up within days. This number is larger than the peak membership of the Labour party during Corbyn’s leadership.
Of course, these are just sign-ups, and not all of them will translate into paid-up members. Initially, those within Labour brushed off Corbyn’s announcement with an exasperated eye roll, labeling him a “martyr.” But as the sign-up numbers continued to climb, they began to realize the potential impact he could have on the political landscape by splitting the left-wing vote.
A recent poll by More in Common showed that a hypothetical Corbyn party could attract 10% of the vote, which would take three points off Labour’s vote share. Luke Tryl, the UK director of the polling organization, stated that in today’s fragmented political landscape, small percentages can make all the difference. He warned that a Corbyn-led party could be the deciding factor between a Labour-led government and a Nigel Farage-led Reform government.
Similarly, Ipsos pollster Keiran Pedley wrote for X that he now believes Corbyn’s party could perform quite well, especially considering the UK’s first-past-the-post electoral system. He dubbed them a “headache for Labour that should be taken seriously.”
At present, Corbyn’s party only has two MPs: himself and Zarah Sultana, who was suspended from Labour after voting against the government’s two-child benefit cap policy last year. However, could they win over other frustrated Labour MPs on the left?
As of the end of July, six MPs who were elected to represent Labour are currently suspended from the party for rebelling against Downing Street. Nonetheless, any who may be considering joining Corbyn’s new group are keeping their intentions close to their chests for the time being.
Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, who was suspended from Labour for voting against the government’s welfare reforms, stated that she does not support the idea of forming another left-wing party. She believes that political parties should be broad coalitions in order to build consensus and unite the country. While she acknowledged that she does not approve of everything the current Labour government stands for, she still believes that the party has the potential to bring about positive change.
Brian Leishman, MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, who was suspended at the same time as Maskell, is also working towards getting the whip back. He remarked, “I still believe that the Labour Party is the best vehicle for redistributing power and wealth for the benefit of the many in society.” However, he also noted the need for Labour to address internal party democracy, pointing out that no Labour MPs were suspended between 1968 and 2024.
Leishman also spoke highly of Corbyn, stating, “It saddens me that people like Jeremy are no longer in the Labour party. In my opinion, he represents the very best of the movement.” Diane Abbott, a close friend of Corbyn’s who served in his shadow cabinet, was also recently suspended from Labour for the second time, amidst fresh allegations of anti-Semitism. However, sources suggest that she is unlikely to defect to a new party, not out of
