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Daniel Finkelstein

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Daniel Finkelstein,

Daniel Finkelstein

Opinion

Corbyn must lose — for our sake

There will be a time for people to go back to Labour, but that time isn’t now, writes Daniel Finkelstein

May 4, 2017 11:04
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3 min read

Let me introduce you to the Blair paradox.

Tony Blair — a man for whom I have tremendous respect — has been arguing that, as Theresa May is going to win, what we really need is a strong opposition. And he has got a point, hasn’t he?

But here’s the problem. There can only be a strong opposition if Jeremy Corbyn is reasonably successful. If Jeremy Corbyn is reasonably successful then Corbyn and/or the Corbynbistas can stay. And if Corbyn and/or the Corbynistas stay we will have a weak opposition. The Blair paradox.

I have a lot of friends who vote Labour and I understand their dilemma. They have supported Labour all their lives and they don’t want to abandon their party to Jeremy Corbyn. Unfortunately, not abandoning the party to Mr Corbyn means supporting the party while he leads it.