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Labour Elects Far-Left Leader in British Politics Shake-Up
New York Times ^ | 09/12/2015

Posted on 09/12/2015 7:48:14 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

LONDON — A veteran anti-war campaigner known for his unapologetically socialist views has won a landslide victory to lead Britain's opposition Labour Party — an outcome that delighted supporters and dismayed others who never imagined he could be elected.

The overwhelming support for far-left lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn, 66, was one of the biggest shake-ups in British politics in decades.

His win Saturday marks a sharp left turn for his party — and will significantly challenge the tone of mainstream British politics, which is now dominated by Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives.

"It's certainly the most high-profile position an overt socialist has held in British politics since the 1980s," said Martin Wright, lecturer in history and politics at Cardiff University. "It's an absolute earthquake. For the last two decades, the center ground has been moving ever further to the right. This moves the frames of reference to the left and opens up an alternative."

Considered an eccentric outsider and a longshot just months ago, Corbyn won many over with passionate arguments for nationalizing industry, heavily taxing corporations and the rich, increasing spending and ending austerity. Supporters say Corbyn is a refreshing voice in a party that has been moving toward the center ground for far too long.

Under the last two Labour leaders in power, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, Labour shed its commitment to nationalizing industry and wooed big business.

Corbyn's blunt rejection of that strategy attracted scores of enthusiastic new members and supporters to the party, earning him a rock-star welcome from many young people disillusioned with British politics.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New York; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: 1moretime; cardiffuniversity; conservativeparty; conservatives; davidcameron; gordonbrown; jeremycorbyn; labor; labour; labourparty; martinwright; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; sadiqkhan; searchandfind; searchworks; socialism; tonyblair; tories; uk; unitedkingdom

1 posted on 09/12/2015 7:48:14 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

British Labour is just copying the U.S. Democrats, who had great electoral success with a far-left A-hole who hates his own country.


2 posted on 09/12/2015 7:52:10 PM PDT by Dagnabitt (Islamic Immigration is Treason)
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To: SeekAndFind

Alternate headline: “Labour Marginalizes Itself”

I think the big winner in this vote may well be Nick Clegg.


3 posted on 09/12/2015 7:52:25 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: SeekAndFind

A mere socialist?
No biggie. At first I thought he might be an Islamocommunist.


4 posted on 09/12/2015 7:53:04 PM PDT by Zuse (I am disrupted! I am offended! I am insulted! I am outraged!)
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To: Zuse

You forget British understatement.


5 posted on 09/12/2015 7:56:27 PM PDT by The_Reader_David (And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know...)
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To: SeekAndFind

People who believe in this guy’s ideology cannot be fellow citizens with those who believe in freedom and self-determinism. That this guy got elected by his party is disturbing evidence of just how divided Western society is becoming.


6 posted on 09/12/2015 7:59:05 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: TBP

Clegg resigned as Lib Dem leader. Tim Farron is the new leader.


7 posted on 09/12/2015 8:12:54 PM PDT by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
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To: iowamark

OK, then he’s the big winner here.


8 posted on 09/12/2015 8:13:37 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: SeekAndFind

They need to find the direction of Mecca. They will soon be on their knees faking love for allah.


9 posted on 09/12/2015 8:22:54 PM PDT by WENDLE (How did Hillary get Top Secret docs out of the Dedicated Secure Network facility?)
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To: WENDLE

On a related note, why was Daniel Craig, the James Bond actor, allowed to donate $45,000 to US candidate Bernie Sanders, as reported this week in the news.


10 posted on 09/12/2015 8:37:22 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: Ciexyz

He is a resident of the US, he lives with wife Rachel Weisz (lucky *******) in the US.


11 posted on 09/13/2015 4:17:58 AM PDT by the scotsman
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12 posted on 09/13/2015 5:45:04 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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To: Ciexyz

Daniel Craig’s next James Bond movie will have Bond going after Anti-global government/Tea Party/Dittoheads folks...


13 posted on 09/13/2015 8:05:09 AM PDT by ExCTCitizen (I'm ExCTCitizen and I approve this reply. If it does offend Libs, I'm NOT sorry...)
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To: SeekAndFind

Rut Rho


14 posted on 09/13/2015 8:11:26 AM PDT by CPT Clay (Hillary: Julius and Ethal Rosenberg were electrocuted for selling classified info.)
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To: TBP

The only have 8 seats left in the House so they are not powerful now. They will certainly make gains in the next election but that won’t be until 2020.


15 posted on 09/13/2015 8:52:10 AM PDT by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
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