‘Corbyn’s politics a threat to prosperity’

As I write, Corbynmania is about to descend upon our city, where, no doubt, Jeremy himself, will hold court to thronging crowds of like-minded supporters.

After their defeat at the recent General Election and rout in Scotland, it is perhaps entirely understandable that the Labour Party should spend a period of self-reflection to decide what it really stands for. Branded as Blue Labour in the north, and seen as too radically left wing in the south, this is a deeply divided Party uncertain as to its mission.

It is easy to see the grassroots appeal of the man who achieved 59.5 per cent of his party’s vote in the leadership contest.

He presented as someone who was refreshingly honest in an age of spin doctors and carefully crafted focus group replies.  There is something nostalgic about his old-fashioned, and proudly professed, Marxist principles.

You may not agree with his politics but at least one can be sure that he says what he believes, and believes what he says.  

However, following his election as Leader, I find it hard to see how he will pull off the trick of commanding and inspiring loyalty amongst his members, having spent a career in Parliament being one of the most rebellious backbench MPs in the Commons. 

It is one thing to preach to the converted, and an entirely different proposition to convince the electorate of the merits of your cause.

Here, I do not think Mr Corbyn’s brand of politics, particularly his positions on unilateral nuclear disarmament, unlimited welfare, uncontrolled immigration, and costly re-nationalisation will resonate to anyone but the unconverted. 

The latest Labour u-turn over the Government’s new Charter of Budget Responsibility – which commits future administrations to act responsibility and keep public finances in surplus during normal economic cycles – shows just how far that Party has yet to travel if it is to regain the trust and confidence of the British people.

Without a sound economy there can be no security for any of us and the country will not be an position to pay for the hospitals and schools upon which we rely.

The Chancellor’s Spending Review next month will unveil the plan to finally get our finances back into the black – its strongest position for almost fifty years.

A fortnight ago, Labour stated they were ready to back this strategy. Now, it seems they want to go back on this pledge and pay for their anti-austerity stand on the back of a borrowing binge. This is the national equivalent of buying a car now and handing the bill to your children. 

Time will tell whether Jeremy Corbyn proves to be a caretaker leader that allows his party to regroup, or whether he will in fact survive to lead them into the next election in 2020. 

Whilst I profoundly reject Corbyn’s politics and proffered solutions to the challenges ahead, it is vitally important that Conservatives concentrate on opposing his ideas and debunking his extremely dubious policy platforms rather than insulting him personally.

These are the arguments we must win whenever this matter is dispassionately put to the vote. If we lose then our country faces a very uncertain, and unsafe, future.

I regard Mr Corbyn as a risk, but it is his brand of politics itself that provides the greatest threat to our prosperity.

Charles Lucas is the Conservative candidate for the Bristol mayoral elections.