The First Time I Became Inspired By A Movement
Politics hasn’t always defined my passions or beliefs. For a long time, my peers and I felt disillusioned with the status quo as socioeconomic inequality spiked in working-class areas, such as the one where I grew up. The British Conservative Party during the majority of my educational years was led by a man who supposedly aligned with liberal values whilst overseeing the academisation and decimation of education and opportunities for young people.
The era of austerity brought marginalisation for working-class kids when the university, once an affable and attractive next step, became unaffordable. David Cameron’s decision to increase the price of tuition fees and cut funding to child development initiatives was a blow to those like me who became deflated by the government’s approach. I was able to go to university, but those who didn’t face a lack of alternative and abysmal apprenticeship salaries.
When Jeremy Corbyn was elected Leader of the Opposition in 2015, I instantly deemed him unelectable. A figure so radical and so left-wing was incapable of leading Labour to electoral victory. His ideas seemed outlandish, expensive and unappealing. I later realised that this was a case similar to Stockholm syndrome; unable to see a way out and frantically finding ways to admire the former moderate Labour leadership as this seemed appropriate. The mainstream media forced the idea that only a centrist Labour party that pledges to be tough on crime, immigration and benefit scroungers was the only viable path to victory. I soon realised that this approach was insufficient to challenge a dominant Tory government.
The 2017 snap election came round fast and a beleaguered newly-installed Corbyn faced hostile internal pressure, excoriating media coverage and a favourable government in the polls. I soon began to admire Corbyn’s recalcitrance to the status quo and unfaltering stance on equality and justice. Once the 2017 party manifesto was launched, I knew we were onto a winner.
Labour promised a glittering future and one that included; the abolition of tuition fees, free school lunches, thousands of council homes to be built yearly and the renationalisation of our key public services from energy to transport. I was swept up in the euphoria of the highly popular policies and the bold direction the party wanted to move in. I was enamoured by Corbyn and the Labour left who recognised the society we lived in wasn’t fair and a more prosperous one was upon us. It seemed I wasn’t alone.
Corbyn oversaw the highest improvement of vote share for Labour since the party’s landslide win in 1945. His campaign led to a hung parliament and 30-seat net gain for Labour. This came after widespread dismissal as the Tories entered the election period with a 21-point lead over the opposition, with the gap narrowing as the campaigning period went on. Voters, activists and party officials were flummoxed by the result and soon realised not to trust the incessant bile that was published in the tabloids. Corbyn’s Labour was labelled a terrorist threat that could plunge the country into economic oblivion. Unfortunately for the right-wing press, many voters refused to believe what they were reading.
Labour didn’t win the election but did considerably better than I initially thought. Post-election, I was energised by Corbynism and joined the Labour Party, later being elected as party Youth Officer in my hometown. I realised that a greener, fairer and just Britain and one that gave everyone from all walks of life an opportunity was in sight. The government was dogged by Labour’s shock success and a Conservative party left licking their wounds was joyous to see.
Through my own activism since joining the party, I met many like-minded activists, spoke to voters and finally felt at home politically. I was living in Cambridge as a student at the time Corbyn-mania began and was overwhelmed by the response from my demographic. We were listened to at last.
The Corbyn period did not survive. The issue of Brexit hampered his efforts for radical reform and a new Tory leader became popular with voters. The 2019 general election was Labour’s worst defeat since 1935. Corbyn’s leadership was harangued by his counterparts and he resigned imminently.
My dismay at Corbynism becoming a fringe movement has been hard to suppress. I am disappointed in the new Labour leader’s efforts to appear more moderate and socially conservative in a bid to sway voters we lost. That being said, I will not give up fighting for a socialist Labour government.
Rich in socialist history, the Labour left have never given up fighting for change. Corbyn has recently been suspended as a Labour parliamentarian but his legacy amongst the young continues. No matter what anyone says about Corbynism, it enlightened many to be politically engaged like never before.
I was inspired by a movement and I will not give up hopes for a better future.
