Regular readers will know that I have little time for the political centre as an end in itself because, without opposites, it ceases to be the centre of anything and becomes sterile of meaning. It is unable to implement whatever plans it has through lack of interest and support. The political conversation detaches from the voters, who walk away altogether or support fringe parties, which act as election spoilers but, under first past the post, win few if any seats. New Labour lost five million voters occupying the centre, while the Tories won the last election on their lowest ever winning total and fewer votes than Churchill achieved in 1950 when he lost to Attlee.
So Corbyn’s speech yesterday, re-defining Labour as the party of the Left and defining this left as ‘twenty first century socialism’, is historic and confirmation that the political weather has indeed changed. What Labour now has to do is define what this update to socialism means in practical terms, so the ordinary people will be inspired to return to the movement which was inaugurated to champion their cause. They will only do so because they understand clear policies set out to bring improvement to their daily lives and the life chances of their children. When those five million voters return to the Labour fold, it will savour victory by a landslide.
This is not just good news for Labour. It is good news for the whole democratic structure, because once Socialism, modernized and resonating with today’s people begins to march, its challenger, Conservatism, will have to modernize and update or sink. That will not only enhance the political process, but will attract a more genuine style of public service politician motivated by a mission other than personal career advancement and financial gain. That must be good whatever side you are on.