The reason Jeremy Corbyn has been elected by a landslide and the reason Labour activism is rejuvenated is because he has, in a parliamentary career of over thirty years, stuck to his principles and never trimmed his opinions to curry votes or gain popularity. When asked a question he answers from his heart; he tells you what he feels and why he feels it. He says what he wants, not what you want to hear. He has been elected Leader of the Opposition because he is a politician but also because he does not behave like one.
He has in the past been a leader of protest. But now he is a national leader and with that office comes the heavy yoke of responsibility. And with responsibility comes the demand of discipline to do what is in the national interest. This may not coincide with your personal preference or even your personal beliefs. But it is your duty to put the nation before yourself. So far Jeremy Corbyn has proved both refreshing and inspiring in many ways, but as yet he lacks the ability to square all aspects of that tension between preference and duty.
It is early days and he has time on his side. There is nothing wrong in opposing more token bombing in Syria, or questioning whether Trident is the right platform to protect this country’s security; it is valid to question whether political assassination of enemy leaders actually does more good than harm. But suggesting that when faced with crazed gunmen mowing down teenagers out clubbing, or shoppers in a supermarket or passers by in a street, the security forces should hold their fire, or try and aim for legs, is plainly ridiculous. It is certainly wrong to shoot unarmed petty criminals who are running away, but it would be no less than wicked to issue instructions which allowed the mowing down of innocents because security forces were unable to offer split second and decisive response.
Jeremy Corbyn needs to sit down with himself and have a serious conversation about these things. Soon the honeymoon period will be over. He can be true to himself and a dependable national leader, but he needs to work out a formula for the credible combination of the two.