Angela Eagle’s candidacy shows moderate Labour hasn’t learned from defeat
This leadership challenge needs to be more than a continuation of a Brownite government- it needs to be a battle for the very meaning of the Labour Party.
Angela Eagle appeared in the media on both ITV’s Peston and BBC’s Sunday Politics to further announce her announcement of a Leadership challenge to Jeremy Corbyn, who was elected just nine months ago. She said she wanted to have a leadership campaign based on “leadership qualities”- an aim that in light of the recent events would appear to be well meaning. However, not only is it completely misguided, it will fail under the assumption that Jeremy Corbyn will be on the ballot paper.
Eagle has served since 1992- a veteran Labour MP that is well known in many circles. She has served three Labour leaders in their cabinets- including stints in the Treasury before Labour left power in 2010, as well as being in Ed Miliband’s Shadow Cabinet and then serving under Jeremy Corbyn. She came fourth in the 2015 Deputy Leadership race that resulted in Tom Watson’s election.
Even with the post- Brexit fallout, the fact of Engela Eagle’s record that Labour members will find it hardest to grasp is that she voted for the Iraq War in 2003- as well as for military intervention in Syria in Autumn 2015. As even Owen Jones, who has called for Corbyn to step down for the good of the Labour Party, has pointed out, Labour members are incredibly unlikely to vote for a leadership contender that voted for the Iraq War- especially in the aftermath of the publication of the Chilcot Inquiry.
That very fact brings into question the entire projected success of Eagle’s campaign. Jeremy Corbyn might be a failed leader in the eyes of the public with over 50% in polls saying they want him to resign- but in the eyes of Labour’s ever increasing membership (this week it hit 515,000 and is still growing) Corbyn is a figure of principles and a return ton ‘real Labour’.
This culminates in the conclusion that moderate Labour simply has’t learned from the mistakes Kendall, Cooper and Burnham made in the 2015 Leadership contest- tacking along the usual policy lines, and generally being uninspiring. That is what led to Corbyn’s election and Eagle replaying those mistakes will simply hand him a renewed and possibly larger mandate to lead the party.
This makes Eagle’s candiacy particularly puzzling- why her?
Yes, many in the party view her as a unifying figure that has served under Corbyn but since felt the backhand of his leadership- and she could inspire many ‘soft Corbynistas’ to switch their vote to herself. However, the large influx of members suggests her attempt will be in vein.
Her attempt at the leadership highlights the major divide between the Parliamentary Labour Party and the membership. The membership will move away from Corbyn towards a more moderate and competent leader only if the party unify around someone new and exciting. MPs including Lisa Nandy, the former Shadow Health Secretary and arch-Corbynista, or one of the many 2010/ 2015 intake of MPs provide the strongest possible challenge to Corbyn.
However, Eagle is the candidate that has garnered the support of the PLP, and apparantly seen off the challenge of Owen Smith MP who some suggest could be a stronger candidate. This means that there is really only one hope left for Eagle’s hopes of ousting Corbyn, and that is battling for the very soul- the very meaning of what it is to be the Labour Party.
It’s dissapointing, on this aspect, to therefore see Eagle talk soley about leadership qualities to the media and not about policy, vision, or principles and power. It isn’t “leadership qualities” that will win her a challenge against Corbyn- it is mounting a battle against the “princples over power” mantra of so many on Labour’s left.
A winning campaign will comprise of all wings of the party coming together to put the principles of progressive, socially democratic change at the forefront of the Labour Party- and make it clear that the only way to achieve that is through winning elections, something Corbyn cannot possibly do from his current position.
And the campaign has to be more than just about the leadership figure and much more about what they stand for, and what they want to make Labour stand for. We’ve seen Corbyn’s leadership fail to hold to the Tories to account. They will soon have a new, even more right-wing leader in either Theresa May or Andrea Leadsom. It’s vital that this Labour Leadership election brings to the aim of Labour government to the forefront of everyone’s minds, and removes the tired opposition leader that has no chance at the ballot box.
I just hope the PLP know what they’re doing in trusting Angela Eagle. She has my (last resort) confidence. She will find it difficult to find it in the membership of the Labour Party, though.
