As Jeremy Corbyn stands on the brink of a landslide victory to become the new Labour leader, it has been instructive to see how the media coverage has played out in the contest. Corbyn has undoubtedly been the story and it’s as if no one else in the context has anything interesting to say. He’s been on the BBC more than Nigel Farage in recent weeks, and that’s really saying something. On Radio Five Live this morning, there was yet another Corbyn story, once again set in a positive light. There was no reference whatsoever to Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper or Yvette Cooper. With the BBC, I suspect it is lazy reporting, just going with what it perceives to be, with some justification, that Corbyn is the story and nothing else matters. With the rest of the media, I suspect they know exactly what they are doing, as Labour approaches what could be its end game as a serious political party.
I went to a packed meeting a few weeks ago which was addressed by Andy Burnham. It attracted no national coverage at all, and almost none in the local media either. Burnham unveiled a series of policies and discussion points, like the need to take the railways back into public ownership, an end to free schools and academies, the need to retain an independent nuclear deterrent in an unstable world and a move to a National Health and Care Service. There was loads more too, all of which resonated with those in attendance. So when I read, particularly from Corbyn’s supporters, that the other candidates have nothing to say, then perhaps they should have a think as to why. It’s because the media is not reporting on what the other candidates are saying.
The red tops are allowing Labour’s to reach its inevitable conclusion with almost no comment or intervention. Tory strategists know as well as anyone how a Corbyn victory will play with the electorate in the years to come and they must be rubbing their hands with glee. And it is not in the interests of the Tory Party to have the right wing press coming out to campaign against the man they so desperately want to win.
It can be argued that the other three candidates have not done enough to engage with the electorate but I don’t buy that. They have invited the media to all their events, they have all been available for interview and comment, but the media has decided that Corbyn is the only story. Who says the right wing press only affects the minds of those it wants to vote Tory? I would suggest that a lot of left-facing voters are falling for the same trap.
None of this is to deflect from the Corbyn/Tom Watson ticket which will assume control of the Labour Party from September. In many ways, Corbyn will be an accidental leader who was enabled by those not on the hard left of the Labour Party but welcomed by those of the far left, many of whom are, or rather were, only recently Labour’s opponents. In fact, in terms of electability, they remain Labour’s opponents.
