MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Corbyn tells BBC he will not campaign for Britain to leave the European Union
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has told the BBC that he will not campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. Mr. Corbyn said that while policy was “developing” he could not foresee a situation where Labor would campaign for a “Brexit” under his leadership. He has come under growing pressure from Labour MPs to clarify his position. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesOf course he won't campaign to leave the EU. He is a believer in the old Stalinist concepts of agricultural collectivisation and industrial five year plans and wants to spread them throughout his vision of a European Soviet.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 11:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0I saw most of the above interview and I admit he seemed and I emphasis 'seemed' to be a nice reasonable man. Even the BBC's political correspondent (can't remember name) fell for it by praising Corbyn for not coming with prepared answers - yeah OK, if you believe that then you'll believe anything.
Definition of a politician - someone who can lie with a straight face
@1
Sep 17th, 2015 - 12:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Expectations were so low at PMQs that the fact he didn't throw up was seen as a success. He read out some E-mails, let Cameron knock them all into touch and that was that. A UK commentator pointed out that while today his performance was considered OK, when he is replaced in a year or two people will ask “Do you remember how terrible his first PMQs was?”.
Whether he can withstand serious questioning will only be determined once Andrew Neil has had a go. Most politicians have no more than one or two dodgy photos or quotes for the Press Office to have to defuse, but Corbyn and McDonnell each have a drawerful for the media to trawl through - so it is almost hard to make mud stick at this point.
Having changed his view on Europe (since Sunday night) it will be interesting what other principles he will have to replace.
He probably is a very nice man but that has very little to do with his ability to run the country or the opposition. He is plainly unprepared and looks astonished to find himself in such a position.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 01:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0He is reinventing himself by the hour as he had to. His idealism was just that and not practical to apply in reality. Unfortunately he is going to look a bit of a fool for a while yet. For instance, before his election he refused to be interviewed in a car as he felt they were bad for the environment. After his election he has accepted an official car and driver. As he should.
Whatever victory the far-left thought they had by getting him elected by 250,000 members of the Labour Party is hollow. For him to effect any change at all he has to gain the support of Labour voters and they sit in the centre of the political views.
The thing is, in the UK we don't support a political party like a football team. It is not for life. We are far more sophisticated in choosing the right party for the right time. And we never embrace extremism.
I take it you don't live in the north Elaine. My home town has been Labour (Red Ed and Caroline Flint currently) since I were a lad; I'm in my 40s. It doesn't seem to matter how the party does, in the last election Ed got as many votes as the Tories and UKIP put together.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 02:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As for Corby I would NEVER vote for him, Labour cocked up when they chose the wrong brother and what was left equated to the failures of the 70s and the fall out of 'New Labour'. Chukka Umuna would have got my vote but he pulled out. With Umuna only being an MP since 2010 he's not tainted by past failures 'yet'.
@4 There are always Party strongholds but they are not the constituencies that win elections. The floating middle ground wins elections and they are influenced by the current climate and policies that suit them the best.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 02:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If Ed couldn't convince the middle ground there is no way Corbyn will, though I don't think Corbyn will be as personally disliked.
I know what you're saying but after 30 years or so after the miners strike Thatcher is still reviled, effigies were burnt up here when she died. I am a floating voter really I voted Tory last time as I felt they were the best of a bad bunch. The north and north east is still the stronghold for Labour as you say but I don't think Corbin is gonna be there for long as like you say he's gotta sway the the marginals. I think though his election was a kick back to the likes of Tony B saying don't go there, even in your personal life if family is vehemently opposed to your own descisions you'll do what you want anyway.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 06:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@6 Yes certain areas hold long-term grudges. The Sun still doesn't sell well in Liverpool and they still burn an effigy of The Pope in Lewes every year. But, ultimately voting is entirely confidential and people are intelligent enough to weight up the options. One thing is for certain, we are not a country of socialists. It doesn't suit the majority because the majority have too much to lose.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 07:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The media keep telling me I hate Punch and Judy pmq's but I don't ....I love it.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 08:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Please can we get rid of this nonsense and get back to good old fashioned abuse.
@6. If I recall correctly, the bookmakers are giving him about 435 days. Wouldn't hang on for Chuka Umunna. Somehow I can't see Britain wanting to hear about Prime Minister Umunna on an overseas visit.
Sep 17th, 2015 - 09:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Corbyn has done a U-turn on the EU evil union.
Sep 18th, 2015 - 07:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0what's next.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!