The Labour Party’s history is shaped by leaders who combined moral seriousness with institutional competence — figures like Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson, and John Smith, whose legacies endure because they understood that governing requires discipline, clarity of purpose, and a deep respect for public service. In this tradition, many argue that Keir Starmer represents the most credible continuation of Labour’s governing ethos, especially when compared with his internal rivals.

This article sets out the case for why Starmer should continue as Prime Minister, drawing on Labour’s historical arc and the leadership qualities that distinguish him within the party.

The Attlee Standard: Serious Government Over Performative Politics

Clement Attlee’s post‑war government succeeded because it prioritised competence over charisma, institution‑building over factional theatre. Starmer’s leadership style — methodical, lawyerly, and grounded in public service — aligns with this tradition.

• Attlee rebuilt Britain through discipline and quiet authority.
• Starmer has rebuilt Labour through discipline and institutional repair, after years of internal turmoil.
• Rivals within the party often lean toward movement politics, rhetorical flourish, or ideological signalling — approaches that historically have not delivered durable Labour governments.

Starmer’s critics sometimes mistake seriousness for lack of flair, but Labour’s most transformative leaders have been those who governed with calm, strategic focus, not spectacle.

The Wilson Lesson: Modernisation Requires Pragmatism, Not Purity

Harold Wilson was my late Dad’s favourite Prime Minister, Wilson understood that Labour wins when it embraces pragmatic modernisation. His governments balanced technological optimism with political realism.

Starmer’s approach mirrors this:

• He has repositioned Labour as a credible party of government, not protest.
• He has prioritised economic stability, echoing Wilson’s belief that Labour must be trusted with the nation’s finances.
• Internal rivals often represent narrower ideological traditions that struggle to command broad national coalitions.

Labour’s history shows that pragmatists win elections and deliver reforms; purists win applause but rarely power.

The John Smith Principle: Integrity as a Leadership Asset

John Smith’s leadership is remembered for its decency, seriousness, and moral clarity. Starmer’s supporters often place him in this lineage:

• A commitment to rule of law, shaped by decades in public service.
• A leadership style rooted in integrity rather than personality cults.
• A refusal to indulge in factionalism or populist shortcuts.

By contrast, some Labour rivals rely heavily on internal factional bases, activist enthusiasm, or ideological identity — qualities that energise party members but do not necessarily translate into national leadership.

Starmer’s strength lies in his institutional maturity, a trait consistently rewarded in Labour’s most respected leaders.

Rebuilding Labour: A Record of Internal Leadership

Starmer inherited a party suffering from:

• Electoral collapse
• Public distrust
• Internal division
• Antisemitism scandals
• Strategic incoherence

Under his leadership, Labour has:

• Restored internal discipline
• Rebuilt relations with business, unions, and international partners
• Re-established credibility on defence and security
• Reduced factional dominance in candidate selection
• Reconnected with voters in former Labour heartlands

These are not achievements of rhetoric; they are achievements of governance. Rivals within the party — however talented — have not demonstrated the same capacity for institutional repair.

Leadership Qualities That Distinguish Starmer from His Rivals

Strategic Patience

Starmer has shown a willingness to take long-term, sometimes unpopular decisions to rebuild Labour’s credibility. Rivals often prioritise short-term movement energy over strategic positioning.

Professional Competence

His background as Director of Public Prosecutions demonstrates:

• Executive leadership
• Crisis management
• Ethical decision-making
• Operational oversight

None of his internal rivals have comparable experience running a major national institution.

Broad Electoral Appeal

Labour leaders succeed when they can speak to:

• Working-class voters
• Middle-class professionals
• Business leaders
• Public sector workers
• International partners

Starmer has positioned Labour as a broad church, whereas rivals often appeal to narrower ideological constituencies.

Stability in a Volatile Era

In a period marked by:

• Global instability
• Economic uncertainty
• Polarised politics

Starmer’s calm, measured leadership style is seen by supporters as an asset. Rivals who favour more confrontational or ideological approaches may struggle to command national confidence.

The Historical Pattern: Labour Governs Best from the Centre-Left

Labour’s most successful leaders Attlee, Wilson, and Blair governed from a broad, centre-left platform that combined:

• Social justice
• Economic responsibility
• Institutional reform
• Internationalism

Starmer’s leadership fits this pattern. Rivals who push Labour toward narrower ideological positions risk repeating the electoral failures of the early 1980s or mid‑2010s.

Keir Starmer Is the Only Leader Who Commands Respect at Home and Across the Commonwealth

As someone who has spent decades working across the Commonwealth from the Caribbean to Africa to Europe in public international law, justice‑sector reform, and multilateral governance, I have seen firsthand what credible leadership looks like. It is not loud. It is not ideological. It is not performative. It is steady, principled, and internationally respected.

That is why the argument for Keir Starmer to continue as Prime Minister is not merely a matter of domestic preference. It is a matter of Britain’s standing across the Commonwealth and the wider international community. In short strong at home, respect at abroad.

And it is why none of his internal Labour rivals come close.

Starmer Has Something His Rivals Do Not: International Credibility

In my work across the Caribbean, in Africa, the European Union, Nigeria, Kosovo, and the wider Commonwealth, I have seen how leaders are judged by governments, civil society, and legal institutions abroad. What matters is:

· seriousness

· predictability

· respect for the rule of law

· the ability to engage diplomatically

· the capacity to command trust

Qualities which Starmer’s possesses in abundance.

His rivals however energetic or with over inflated gusto do not carry the same weight in international circles. They do not have the same reputation for legal integrity, institutional discipline, or diplomatic steadiness. In the Commonwealth, these qualities are not optional. They are essential.

In the Caribbean, Starmer Is Seen as a Serious, Law‑Grounded Leader

Across the Caribbean, Starmer is regarded — particularly among legal professionals, civil society leaders, and Commonwealth institutions — as a figure of:

· professional integrity

· measured leadership and

· respect for constitutional norms

This matters. Caribbean states have long memories of British political instability. They value predictability and seriousness in London. Starmer’s background as a leading Human Rights Silk and former Director of Public Prosecutions resonates strongly in jurisdictions where the rule of law is not an abstract concept but a daily struggle.

His internal rivals simply do not command the same level of respect or recognition in the region.

Labour’s History Shows That Serious Leaders Deliver — Not Performers

Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson, and John Smith were not performers. They were nation‑builders. They understood that leadership is not about applause; it is about responsibility.

Starmer stands squarely in that tradition.

· Like Attlee, he governs with quiet authority.

· Like Wilson, he modernises without theatrics.

· Like Smith, he leads with integrity.

His rivals, by contrast, often represent the politics of internal applause the kind of politics that excites activists but does not reassure the Commonwealth, the business community, or international partners.

My Commonwealth Experience Shows Why Starmer’s Leadership Matters

Having worked on justice‑sector reform in Belize, engaged with OAS‑affiliated institutions, advised on governance in Nigeria, and served in international legal roles in Kosovo and The Hague, I have seen how Britain’s leadership is interpreted abroad.

When Britain is led by someone who understands: the rule of law, international obligations, multilateral diplomacy, and constitutional restraint its influence expands.

When it is led by someone who prioritises internal factional politics or ideological purity, its influence contracts. Starmer strengthens Britain’s credibility. His rivals who seek to replace the Prime Minister would weaken it.

Starmer Has Already Demonstrated the Qualities of a Statesman

He inherited a Labour Party that was fractured, distrusted, electorally broken and internationally diminished.

He has rebuilt Labour with discipline, strategic clarity, institutional seriousness and a commitment to ethical governance

These are the qualities that Commonwealth partners recognise and respect. These are the qualities that Caribbean leaders value in their British counterparts. These are the qualities that Labour’s internal rivals have not demonstrated.

Britain Cannot Afford a Leader Who Only Understands Westminster

The world is too interconnected. The Commonwealth is too important. Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia too are strategically significant. Britain needs a Prime Minister who can speak with authority not only in Parliament but also in Bridgetown, Kingston, Berlin, Brussels, Port of Spain, Abuja, Addis Ababa, Ottawa, Beijing, Nairobi, Brasilia, Ankara, Starmer can. His rivals cannot.

Starmer is the Only Leader Who Meets the Commonwealth and Global Test

Labour’s internal debates are important, but they must not obscure the larger truth: Britain’s leadership is judged not only by its voters but by its partners across the world.

Keir Starmer is the only Labour figure who commands respect in Europe, across the Commonwealth, is recognised in the West Indies as a serious, law‑grounded leader, understands the international legal order, has demonstrated institutional discipline and can govern for the long term rather than merely perform short term opportunism.

His rivals may offer passion or ideological clarity. But passion is not diplomacy. Ideology is not governance. And clarity without competence is a liability.

For Labour, for Britain, and for the Commonwealth, the case for Starmer continuing as Prime Minister is overwhelming.

Conclusion A Leadership Tradition Worth Continuing

From Attlee’s quiet authority to Wilson’s modernising pragmatism and John Smith’s moral seriousness, Labour’s strongest leaders have shared a commitment to competence, stability, and national service.

Keir Starmer stands in this lineage.

His internal rivals while representing important strands of Labour’s intellectual tradition — do not offer the same combination of:

• Institutional experience
• Strategic discipline
• Broad national appeal
• Ethical leadership
• Capacity for government

For those who believe Labour should continue governing with seriousness and stability, the argument for Starmer’s continuation as Prime Minister rests not on personality, but on historical precedent and demonstrated leadership capability.

Chief David Kolawole ‘’DKS’’ Solesi who recently marked his 90th birthday on Thursday 16 July has achieved a distinguished and remarkable of almost 60 years career as a lawyer in Nigeria. Chief Solesi who in his long career can count amongst his friends, the great and good of that revolving door of politics and law in Nigeria from the first to fourth republics, the likes of which include Chief Obafemi Awolowo SAN (Inner Temple, 1946), Chief FRA Williams SAN (Gray’s Inn, 1943), Chief Bola Ige SAN (Inner Temple, 1961), Chief Solomon Lar (Nigerian Bar, 1971) and other distinguished men and women of the bar and bench. He was amongst that pioneering class of lawyers in Ijebu, Remo, Egba lands and those in the nook and crannies of the South Western legal circuit who all knew each other on a first name basis with years of friendship dating back years.

Sir Solesi was born on July 16, 1930, in Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State to Samuel Adenuwe Solesi, a successful farmer and a steward at the Methodist Church in Ilisan-Remo and Chief Efularin Solesi (Iya Eleko) a trader. From the time of his birth to date Ilisan-Remo, his hometown Ilisan Remo, the Methodist Church and his legal career have the hallmarks of his life to date. His community, the church and law have defined his long and illustrious career. later from when he was called to bar at Gray Inn’s London.

A devout Christian his life is steeped in the Wesleyan traditions of the Methodist Church from years attending Wesley Primary School, Ilisan-Remo, from 1942 to 1949 and for his secondary Methodist Boys High School from 1950 to 1955. Sir. Solesi’s tenacity and doggedness, sterling qualities which have endured his life were formed at early age. At a young lad he and his brothers assisted his dad on the farm and his maternal side who were skilled blacksmiths and he was in what was a successful business which made his dad form the view that a formal education was necessary for him and his male siblings. However unbeknownst to his dad, young Solesi who was passionate about education had other plans. He bought himself a school uniform and had saved enough from the sale of self-made knives and other farm implements for his school fees. The school fees were one shilling and six pence. Dressed in the school uniform (Wesley Primary School, Ilisan) he asked his dad to take him to school. His Dad gladly obliged and he enrolled at primary school at an advantage being more mature than his classmates who were mostly five years younger.

On completing his secondary education, he did a short stint as a Clerk with the then Post and Telegraph Department (which was succeeded by the defunct Nigerian Telecommunications Limited and the surviving Nigerian Postal Service) and later at the Nigerian Railway Corporation till 1958. In 1958 he travelled to England to seek the golden fleece embarked on the golden fleece enrolling at the Holborn College of Law part of the University of London International Programme for his Bachelor of Laws and was called to bar on 9 July 1963 at Gray’s Inn, said to be friendliest of the Inns of Court and later to the Nigerian Bar on 13 July 1964. His lifelong friend, Ijebu kinsman and law firm partner Alhaji Isiaka Abiodun Sanni who he met during his studies in London was called to Bar on the same day at Lincoln’s Inn and on the same day as Chief Solesi to the Nigerian Bar. Later Babcock University awarded him a honoris causa Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his distinguished service to the community and to law in 1999 on the same day former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme (Nigerian Bar, 1991) was similarly bestowed with the LLD honoris causa.

Sir Solesi law practice and partnership with Alhaji Sanni (Sanni, Solesi & Co) was the oldest legal partnership firm in Nigeria, established in February 1964 and one of the oldest professional services firm in Nigeria until the death of Alhaji Sanni in 2019. DKS had previously before founding his firm with Alhaji had a short stint with his Remo compatriot and friend, Chief Kehinde Sofola SAN (Lincoln’s Inn, 1954). Appointed a Notary Public in 1971, Sir Solesi’s career from his days as a junior and now to a distinguished senior elder of the bar and minister in the temple of justice imbibes the noble principles of our learned profession in his conduct, honesty, integrity, confidence in the administration of justice, interests of his clients and relations with colleagues. These attributes have served him well in his career including stints when he had been involved in high profile public family cases and also in his mentorship of junior members of the Bar. His practice is one of the leading law firms with the air of provincial English law practice and the serenity of the Barristers chambers at the Inns of Court in London which specialisms in family law, capital markets, banking, insurance contract, property, trusts, company law, wills and probate, commercial law and alternative dispute resolution. Sanni, Solesi and Co have served as Legal Advisers to WAPIC Insurance PLC one of premier Insurance firms for over 50 years and to African Continental Bank for about 34 years as well as other large and medium sized buinesses. His firm also provided pro bono advice to Babcock University in its application to be a university before it was eventually inaugurated as a university on 20 April 1999 from the Adventist Seminary of West Africa. Similarly, Sir Solesi was a pioneer founder, director and Legal Advisor of Micro-Finance Bank in Ilisan. Yetunde Ladega his daughter and associate in his firm is the Company Secretary of the Bank, a service she undertook pro bono. His firm’s loyalty to the clients and indeed employees is well known with his driver having been in his service for almost 40 years and counting!

In his career of almost 60 years of practice has been involved in widely cited cases which have established important legal principles and maxims at the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court. Chief Awolowo opines that the rigorous mental drill of Mathematics, or Logic and Methodology, and Psychology are disciplines which enforce; the tidiness of mind and precision in thought and presentation which the study of Mathematics, Logic and Methodology provide; and the breadth of outlook and a deep comprehension of ‘the complex of human passion’ which psychology imparts — all these, among other things, are sine qua non of any healthy trial for an Advocate and indeed the success of Chief Solesi’s career at the Bar bearing testimony to the application of these disciplines.

In the case of James O. Jegede v Madam Alimotu L. Giwa & Ors. [LOR 15/4/1977 — Supreme Court] appearing for the appellant at the highest court found in appellant’s favour ruling on the classic principle of maxim that Court as a Court of Equity has a duty to do equity. Fatayi-Williams JSC stated that, “It must be remembered that in a court of equity, wrongful acts are no passport to favour”.

In the case of Madam Asimowu Odusoga, Segun Odusoga v. L Ricketts Supreme Court of Nigeria, 4 Jul 1997 Suit No: SC.57/1990 on the issue of the validity of the sale under customary the Court held “Where however, part payment of the purchase price was made and the balance is tendered within the stipulated time or, in the absence of a stipulated time, within a reasonable time, the vendor cannot resile from the contract of sale and the purchaser in possession will be entitled to a decree of specific performance.”

Similarly in the case of Adefulu & Ors v. Oyesile & Ors [(1989) LPELR-SC.5/1988] a case which involved the dispute on the status of the enthronement of the Olofin of Ilisan, his home town he appeared with Chief FRA Williams SAN, the Supreme Court held that in bringing representative action the representative must have the same interest as the person that he claims to represent. The Court declared that if the interest of the representative action and the representative are common ‘’ a representative action would be in order, provided that the relief sought in the action is in its nature beneficial to those whom the plaintiff represents”.

In the locus classicus commercial and constitutional law case of Victor J. Rossek & Ors. v. African Continental Bank Ltd. & Ors. (1993) 8 NWLR (Pt. 312) 382 sparring against his Ijebu kinsman and friend Chief GOK Ajayi SAN (Inns of Court, 1955) who appeared for the Respondents (ACB & Ors), he persuaded the highest court in the land in a unanimous decision that the order of a trial Court is a decision binding on all the parties to the case and it remains binding until it is set aside by due process of law that is by a Court of competent jurisdiction either on an appropriate application or by an appeal. Chief Solesi was successful in arguing that on the point of retrospective legislation relating to s. 258 of the 1979 Constitution argument that the effect of the law to be applied ‘’when an appeal comes for review or hearing can only be the law in force at the time the presiding justice was writing his judgment and not the law that came to the statute books when the presiding Judge has no opportunity to examine and consider such amendment introduced into the existing law years thereafter.

I am reminded by a veteran journalist, that there is a folk tale in Chief’s Ilisan community about his legal luminary stature and prowess where legend has it of a court case involving some students that were accused of the death of a student arising from a riotous demonstration. In defence of one of the accused, DKS displayed an uncanny, unforgettable, and remarkable spectacle. The story goes that he argued that his client could not be singled out and held responsible for the lynching of the deceased. He deftly underpinned his arguments in court by bringing out a Broom and a bottle containing a housefly. He released the fly from the bottle used the Broom to swat the fly. There was pin drop silence in the court when he asked the question which broomstick killed the fly. This practical experience exhibited in the court discharged the accused. Such is the reverence of his legal abilities held in Ilisan, nay Remo and Ijebu behold in Asiwaju Solesi.

Chief Solesi’s law partnership with Alhaji Sanni despite their differences in faith, Alhaji Sanni being a Muslim was founded on trust, integrity and fidelity which was why since the firm was established until Alhaji Sanni’s death in 2019 their practice in operating the firm’s bank account opened 1964 was to each of them to sign a cheque if they needed to withdraw funds with both of them sharing their profits equally. The epitome of a quintessential business partnership. During the period of the second republic when Alhaji Sanni was the Ogun State Commissioner of Works his low wages as a political appointee was supplemented by income from the firm. Their partnership was unique to those familiar with them that you knew in equal measure the Solesi and Sanni households as well as the extended families in Ilisan and Imodi Imosan (Alhaji’s hometown). It was also reflected in the close proximity of their Lagos residence almost a stone throw away and I recall that on alternate evenings a few decades ago, he took his evening leisurely walks to Alhaji Sanni and other evenings, Alhaji did likewise ourselves. Then the similarity in their vehicles same make, brand and colour with the vehicles number plates registered either in Lagos State with the same digits ‘2345’ but different local government areas Somolu or Mushin respectively LA2345SH and LA2345MH or in Ogun State, Remo and Ijebu respectively OG 2345 R and OG 2345 J.

Dr Solesi is known for his wit an attribute that has been part of his armory as an excellent trial advocate and forensic appellate counsel. During the zoom service at the low key thanksgiving service at his Lagos residence to celebrate his birthday he jokingly said when I asked was he going to eat rice with the aya mase chili sauce stew or pounded yam, he said rice was for birds that he was eating pounded yam which is one of his favourite meals.

Chief Solesi has held the title of Asiwaju Balogun of Ilisan since 1974 and Asiwaju of Ilisan in 2008. In this role he remains a senior privy councillor to the Olofin of Ilisan Remo. His professional calling as a lawyer and Asiwaju in the community has been of immense benefit to the community over the years particularly during interregnum spells when the position of Olofin was vacant and by virtue of his position has been defacto leader of the community and all the associated community groups including his family, quarters and age group, all important like the threading of the Yoruba regal fabric (așǫ oke) and much like his chieftaincy saki (adorned on his right shoulder) fabric woven into the cloth like tapestry which binds the community together. He is known never to miss weekends at Ilisan and save for periods abroad on the International Bar Association conference circuit or visiting his children and grandchildren abroad he spends most weekends in Ilisan and I do recall times when even he travel to Ilisan say on a Thursday and return to Lagos for an event and then travel immediately back to Ilisan to return back to Lagos either late on Sunday or early on Monday. It was also convenient to stay in Ilisan if he had to attend court in Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, or Ibadan. This was a common feature of many of his generation of lawyers from Ijebu and Remo.

Asiwaju Solesi was one of the founding members and past President of his hometown’s premier social and intellectual club, Ilisan Club with members drawn from the town’s elite. Similarly, as a long serving Chair of his community’s Ilisan Development Council now Ilisan Development Association (IDA) in the 1970s he was pivotal to the development and growth of Ilisan over the years with its transformation today as a university town. The Ilisan Development Council is a quasi-development council similar to a Parish Council in England but without statutory powers. However, it is influential in being formal civic consultative and advisory body for the Olofin the traditional rule of Ilisan as well as for the community of Ilisan as well as the defacto leader of community’s voluntary sector. The IDA forms part of the advisory bodies that advise the Olofin on the use and disposal of community common lands or those gifted for the common use held in trust for the community.

The Council is responsible for the support and encouragement of the community’s customs, culture and traditions including the annual Ishanbi day week held during first week of October, the Oro festival, and other faith-based festivities. It also plays a role in developing infrastructure for the common good of the town including the town, post office, health centre and the community bank. IDA has also been at the forefront of the community’s neighbourhood type vigilante watch.

According to one of those distinguished younger colleagues Chief Solesi has mentored over the years, Prince Adeyemi ‘’Triple A’’ Adefulu (Nigerian Bar, 1972) whose law firm Odujinrin & Adefulu (founded by Prince Adefulu and his long standing friend and colleague Senator Oladipo Odujinrin (Nigerian Bar, 1970) is almost 50 years and is now the longest surviving active law practice in Nigeria, he describes Dr Solesi as remaining as a constant and permanent feature of the Ilisan social and development landscape who has been involved in the town’s every development effort. Asiwaju Solesi having served on the Town Hall Building Committee. Later as Chairman of the Education Committee with Prince Adefulu serving under him as the Secretary, that Committee did much of the groundwork and raised funds for the establishment of the town’s first secondary school, Ishanbi Secondary School in 1977. Currently there are 8 secondary schools in Ilisan when in 1976 a testament to the efforts of Asiwaju leading the likes of Prince Adefulu. Prince Adefulu further captures it perfectly when he opines that to Chief Solesi, Ilisan was always his Jerusalem, a place of total peace and reconciliation. At 90 years, Asiwaju can look back with joy and contentment as one of the architects of modern Ilisan, a mentor, an inspirer, a motivator, builder, and committed modernizer to many in Ilisan and beyond.

In the 1980s and 1990s Chief Solesi and a couple of his childhood friends from Ilisan, Chief F. Sonaike, a Chartered Accountant, late Chief E.O Orelaja formerly Chief Legal Adviser CFAO Group (Inner Temple, 1965), late Prince Adetayo Adebo, formerly Chief Engineer of Pfizer Livestock Feeds, late Chief Abiodun ‘’John Bull’’ Onabiyi, a Building Engineer and late Chief B.O Sobande, formerly Chief Magistrate Ogun State (Inner Temple, 1963) formed the Childhood group organising events and raising funds for good causes in Ilisan.

The Most Rev and Rt. Hon Stephen Cottrell the Archbishop of York and Primate of England, the second most senior bishop of the church and the most senior in northern England and formerly my diocesan Bishop in Essex says leadership is ‘like steering a ship in chopping waters than driving a car down a motorway’ aptly describes Sir Solesi’s remarkable legal career, leadership in his community Ilisan Remo as a long serving Chairman of the Ilisan Development Association in the 70s and the Methodist Church in both the Remo Diocese and the Diocese of Lagos Central administrative dioceses of his parish Methodist Churches in Ilisan and (Methodist Church Cathedral of Blessing Palm Avenue, Mushin) Ilupeju, Lagos respectively. In recognition of his service to the Methodist Church he was invested with Knighthood of John Wesley in 2013 and on 19 July 2014 he was invested with the title of Baba Ijo (leader of the laity) of Methodist Church, Ilisan.

Sir Solesi’s life and devotion to his faith is exemplified in the Wesleyan Methodist tradition of Christian Holiness encapsulated in our Lord and Saviour command in Mark 12:31 of love to God with all one’s heart, mind, soul and strength and to love one’s neighbour as oneself. In espousing the Wesleyan Methodist tradition in his career, community and service to the Church he is putting faith and love in action which is what John Wesley refers to as ‘’practical divinity’’. The German Lutheran theologian and second world martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer similarly opines that most glorious Christian concept of grace which he distinguishes in ‘costly’ and ‘cheap’. Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. On the contrary, Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Baba Ijo Solesi life in 9 decades and counting thus far is one of costly grace evident in his exemplary service to his family, community, his faith and his profession. St Paul in Corinthians 12 speaks of different kinds of gift in the service of the Lord all working for the common good and as the Solesi family patriarch, leader of the Community in Ilisan and Elder of the Church has exhibited the gift of wisdom.

Side Bar: At this juncture, I have to declare an interest, Chief Solesi (Baba ‘Sale to borrow the moniker his wife fondly calls him) is my uncle married to my mum’s older sister Clementine Olajumoke nee Osibodu, a retired Chartered Secretary and Assistant Director of Accounts in the Federal Civil Service who he married on 18 June 1959 in London. Their courtship started when they met an Ilisan Student Association meeting in 1954 and they both travelled to London in 1958. Theirs is a married blessed with children, all graduates who have stellar careers in law, project management and engineering, medicine and business. On a personal note, three uncles of mine have greatly influenced my chosen career in law, Chief Solesi, Chief Lanre Adeniyi, Lincoln’s Inn, 1964 and Pa Timothy Olayinka Osibodu, Gray’s Inn, 1961 (both of blessed memory) with each of them in their own way having distinguished themselves at the Bar for over 50 years. I recall as my very first day in court at Ikeja High Court was as a young toddler with Chief Solesi who was all suited up with me having to carry his monogramed black barrister’s robe bag inscribed with his initials ‘’DKS’’.

In a day and age in Nigeria when mediocrity has shown its face in sphere of our hallowed profession of law we are exceedingly glad and joy that the likes of Chief Dr Sir DKS bears testament to the enduring qualities and embodiment of that most noble of Yoruba concept of Omoluwabi. The phrase Agakanawo better pronounced for emphasis and clarity in the Remo dialect literally means climbing the ladder to make money a description of sorts in the way and manner generations of old climbed up the ladder of the barn or loft to retrieve their stored farm produce to sell in the markets or to the commodity produce boards. Agakanawo popularly used to describe those from Ilisan symbolises the journey of Asiwaju Solesi 90 years which has been as constant as the Northern star. As such a well-deserved 90 hearty cheers on his birthday and praying for more fruitful years including a telegram from the Commonwealth sovereign in the not too distant future!

©Oladele Osinuga Esq., Otunba Lemofin Ogijo-Remo, Omoba ni llu Ilisan Remo, Barrister, works as Prosecution Advisor and Justice Sector Prosecution Lead in a leading International Governmental Organisation writes from Belize City, Belize Email: oladele@omobaosinugaandco.com Follow him on twitter @delinjerosin, google+ OladeleOsinuga, linkedin Omoba Oladele Osinuga.

I write as a son of commonwealth immigrants whose parents departed their home country to come to the UK seeking the ‘golden fleece’ and after studying returned to contribute to their motherland. So having returned to the UK in the 90s, it was only natural that despite Labour being in opposition at the time, I made a decision to join the party based significantly in part on what the party stood for, its values and ideas as well as its long history of support of the struggle against colonialism and long standing fraternal association with independence nationalist greats and heroes such as India’s Jawaharlal Nehru, Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, Nigeria’s Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Tanzania’s Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Jamaica’s Manley (senior and junior) and a host of others from the commonwealth who were loyal supporters of the party’s Fabianist social democratic vision, values and ideas. My parents who always voted for Labour were very much endeared to the ideas, pragmatism, zeal and visions of these leaders just as they were by Labour leaders such as Wilson, Atlee, Gaitskell, Healey and others. Labour’s tradition of support from the time of the old British Empire and historic commonwealth is very much alive today and is of great influence to the bedrock of support the party gains from generations of those whose origins and ancestry are from that part of the world but are now settled in the UK and call the UK home.

Thus when we go back in time as well as look around today, Labour supporters should not make the fatal mistake and error of electing Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party. We see no visionary and reformer of past Labour leaders as well as leaders in Europe today on the progressive left in the mould of three young European leaders who are in their 40s namely Greece’s Alexis Tsipras (41), Italy’s Matteo Renzi (40) and Malta’s Joseph Muscat (41).

Popular hysteria and mass attendance at hustings and events do not equate to votes. Opinion polls are usually unreliable as we have seen during the general elections in May. It is obvious why elements of the right wing press are heralding Corbyn’s phantom lead in the opinion polls as Labour going into oblivion wounded and battered after this leadership election only augments the Tories. What better way to do this than contribute to your opponent’s demise!

Corbyn is a maverick and serial rebel and history tells us they do not make good leaders in an elective democracy particularly not when that person voted 400 times against his party when they were in government. A leader cannot be expected to do ‘as I say’ but not ‘do as I do’ — loyalty is earned not prescribed and Corbyn cannot and should not expect anything is different. Corbyn’s calls for unity are nothing but rank hypocrisy as he has never been for a united, strong and vibrant Labour party.

Italians look to Remzi for hope. Does anyone in their right minds really think that with a politician who hasn’t made any significant impact since 1983? Being re-elected MP in a safe seat of Islington North does not tell me what I need to know on how effective Jeremy Corbyn is going to be as leader, in fact it tells me otherwise that you cannot be doing the same thing all these years (over 30 years) and expect to be a reformer, visionary and agent for change in the next 5 or 10 years. Corbyn for anyone who cares to listen is not the equivalent of Tsipras in Greece, Remzi in Italy or Muscat in Malta all leaders who have formed broad coalitions in leading progressive left governments. It is simply not in Corbyn’s DNA and antecedents to be reformist and modernist minded like those 3 young European leaders who have been forced to make bold, reformist changes in government and modernise their economies.

Foreign Policy

At this stage when everyone knows Corbyn’s views on the Iraqi, it is utterly irrelevant and grandstanding at best for him to apologise for the Iraqi war. Addressing the wider conflict in the region including North Africa particularly the migrant crisis and reaching peaceful resolutions of the conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria should be the priority not a meaningless apology. Where is the consistency in Corbyn’s foreign policy when he has not been seen to be robust and vehement in his condemnation of Russia for its illegal occupation of Crimea and aggression in Eastern Ukraine? All Corbyn has said to date is that the West through NATO should not go to war over Ukraine and that he feels nervous about NATO expansion — fair enough but has this stopped Russian aggression or offer solace to the victims of the war in Ukraine including victims of the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines Flight MH 17 which was shot down in rebel held area in Donetsk area, Eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014? More so since Corbyn is quick to offer his apologies, presumably ‘Jez can’t’ would apologise too for applauding ISIS in 2014! Support for HAMAS and Hezbollah may appear radical but do these groups allow for plurality of political, social and religious views in their domains of Gaza and Lebanon respectively? Is Corbyn on record in condemning HAMAS and Hezbollah for their violent activities and support for other extremist groups?

On the Domestic Policy

In the sphere of domestic policy particularly where it converges with foreign policy particularly in the sphere of human rights and justice, unlike Yvette Cooper’s substantive far reaching pronouncements’ on this issue, Corbyn’s views reveal a lack of depth and worryingly he concurs with the Tories in replacing the Human Rights Act with an enhanced Bill of Rights (whatever ‘enhanced’ means when there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Human Rights Act! see http://lchr.org.uk).

On the Economy

Corbyn’s proposal to nationalise the rail industry, parts of the banking sector, printing more money to financial public expenditure (otherwise known by its fancy name ‘quantitative easing’, ‘QE’ for short), removing private providers in the NHS as well as returning schools to local government is not only a costly and inefficient way to deliver public services but is wishful thinking that this neither viable or indeed feasible.

Building a Coalition of progressive forces on the left

Corbyn despite saying he can, is not one who can be counted upon to build a coalition with progressive forces particularly those that be described as soft left, disenchanted Tories and Liberal democrats and moderate UKIPs and Greens. Ramping up your vocal core base does not translate to winning the mainstream in the UK particularly those marginal seats Labour won in 1997 and have since lost in significant numbers since 2010. Seats which Labour need to win to have any chance of being the party of government. Nothing suggests that Corbyn is the candidate that can do this for Labour.

Corbyn has rebelled all his life — good if you are a backbencher but no one would take you seriously if you want to be an effective leader. The same rebellious streak made him drop out of university (coincidentally my alma mater) because he did not agree with the way course was being taught. Piers Corbyn, his brother confirmed that he (Corbyn) continually rowed with his lecturers about the Trade Union Studies syllabus at the then North London Polytechnic (now London Metropolitan University) until he eventually dropped out of the course (see http://www.sunnation.co.uk/very-red-much-wed-union-led/). A leader is expected to be able take decisions some tough and unpalatable, having worked as a union apparatchik (NUPE now Unison) and a backbench MP since 1983 nothing in Corbyn’s long career as a convenient backbencher suggests he has the nous, intellect and skills set to do this. Corbyn dogmatic, intransigent and rigid nature is such that it is reported he left his wife of over 12 years for ideological reasons because he wanted to send his son to a failing local comprehensive (see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3127962/Labour-leadership-hopeful-Jeremy-Corbyn-left-wing-divorced-wife-refused-send-son-failing-comprehensive.html) — undoubtedly Corbyn’s sanctimonious, ‘holier than thou’ attitude in the choice of school for his son is based on the ‘Jez knows best’ doctrine! These are hardly qualities and attributes expected of a leader. A leader with this sort of attitude is not that the kind of leader the Labour Party needs. In fact alarm bells should ring if a leader does not have friends with a broad spectrum of interests and not necessarily ones in Corbyn’s case who seems to only have friends and partners over the years who share his unrealistic ideological views. The MPs who nominated Jeremy Corbyn to ensure he had the requisite nomination for the leadership ballot have showed how irresponsible they were in reaching this abysmal decision. One wonders whether these MPs sought the consent of their CLPs before taking this decision.

Jeremy Corbyn is not a team player and he does not have the character, temperament, vision and intellect to be leader of the Labour Party. He is not a reformer as is evident from his record from someone who has been in parliament since 1983. An examination of Jeremy Corbyn’s voting records shows this at only 41.51 % , which is quite below standard for a backbencher, it’s a fail my book. Furthermore for a man supposedly perceived as a reformist he has always consisted voted against modernising initiatives such as fewer MPs and local government reforms. Remzi in Italy was formerly a reformist Mayor of Florence and Tsipras has proven what it takes to make tough decisions in tackling Greek sovereign debt. Muscat modernising accomplishments in Malta in two and a half years is one of which social democrats can be proud of, reducing Malta’s deficit from 3.7 per cent to 2.1 per cent, and a reduction in the debt to GDP ratio.

One has to question whether Corbyn is actually proud of Labour’s record in government given his serial and vociferous opposition. Let’s ignore his opposition to the war in Iraqi which was opposed by a lot of people across the board mainly because it was not sanctioned by the UN and in my view contrary to international law. Similarly campaigning against apartheid was Labour party policy so his record on that ain’t no great shakes! Under Labour the UK saw real GDP per adult grow by 22 per cent between 1997 and 2007 and then fell back by 2010 to 17 per cent, which was higher than it had been in 1997. Thus Yvette Cooper is right in defending Labour’s sound economic policies in government which independent experts have stated on the record did not lead to the recession as some on the right have erroneously stated (see http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/social-policy-in-a-cold-climate-assessing-labours-record; http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/05/labours-fine-economic-record). It is indeed a sad state of affairs where inaccurate and wrong records are consistently peddled by those oblivious to the truth and seeking to denigrate Labour’s record in government as statement of truth based on entirely wrong facts and premise which unfortunately is an indictment on the complacency of Labour at the last election which allowed the Tories to set the agenda forcing Labour into retreat.

Corbyn is not being realistic in the policies he proclaims and indeed in his thwarted programs that do not stand up to scrutiny offers no compelling vision and ideas needed to transform the Labour party. Only Yvette Cooper has what it takes to lead the party the personality, experience, character, vision, nous and intellect to offer a credible alternative to Cameron and lead Labour back into government. This is why a survey of Conservative MPs (who know a threat when they see one) reveals that almost three quarters of them think Yvette Cooper — 38% would perform best against David Cameron at the Despatch Box in the House of Commons (see http://www.maitland.co.uk/news/political/exclusive-survey-of-conservative-on-labour-leadership-contest). Hence eligible Labour supporters should vote wisely by choosing Cooper, Stella Creasy and Tessa Jowell, by electing these 3 reformist minded women for the posts of Leader, deputy leader and London Mayor the party is showing its intent, will and readiness to be the party that can appeal to the hopes and aspirations of the different shades of people in the UK who deserve much better than what they currently endure under the Tories.