Jeremy Corbyn made a speech today in which he pointed out that “too much profit from economic growth had gone to those at the top of society.” To my eyes, Corbyn’s comments were not exactly controversial or particularly original. It is a matter of fact that since 2010, the rich have grown richer and the poor have grown poorer, but you would have thought, from the responses of the Tories and Lib Dems, birds of a feather if ever there were, that Corbyn was threatening a socialist takeover of the entire country. In fact, he was addressing a major issue, something that politicians are meant to do, aren’t they?
Not all of Corbyn’s speech represent Labour Party policy, yet, but there were plenty of ideas, food for thought. Is it right, for example, that companies can make vast profits on the back of workers on the minimum wage and zero hour contracts? A company like Asda, for example, which I liked working for, but pays delivery drivers £6.76 an hour for a 30 hour week, include evenings and weekends. Everyone earns the same as Asda, except for those at the top.
Corbyn went on: “A more equal society is not only fairer, it does better in terms of economic stability and wealth creation.” Yes, that’s right. And I go back to the point I make when debating just about everything. We are only here on this earth because of the accident of our birth. Some people are born into immense privilege, some are not. Do we not have a duty to encourage and develop a genuine meritocracy that enables everyone to succeed in life and to ensure that people who work hard do not get paid poverty wages? I am, no way, arguing for some kind of socialist ideal, which I don’t think would be ideal, for everyone to be paid the same and I certainly don’t want to penalise those who want to better their circumstances, but why should opportunity be denied to so many?
I also support 100% Corbyn when he says the railways should be returned to public ownership. Actually, some of the companies are already state owned, but by the governments of other countries. The railways should be a public service, not an opportunity for spivs and chancers to make easy money. The taxpayer now spends more on the railways than when we owned them. How can that be right? And why should be not, as Corbyn suggests, have democratic control of utilities like gas and electricity? To my mind, they should never have been flogged off into private hands in the first place. If we don’t renationalise them, then more powerful regulation is needed.
And let me return to what I said earlier: these are not Labour policies. Corbyn is raising issues for debate. But look at the reaction of vested interests:
The Tories said, these ideas represented a “clear threat to our economic security”.
Tim Farron, showing the Lib Dems remained every bit as right wing as they were when in coalition with the Tories, added that Corbyn “seems committed on ripping apart our business sector in pursuit of an egalitarian fantasy”.
Let us put into context these comments. The idea of improving the lives of the working poor represents “a threat to our economic security” and ensuring workers receive a fair share of the spoils of prosperity is “an egalitarian fantasy.” How so?
My loyal reader will know that I am not a natural Corbyn supporter. I doubt that I ever will be. I have been highly critical about the obsession both he and his supporters have had since his election with internal politics within the Labour Party, of his preference to speak to people who already agree with him rather than those who need to be persuaded that there could be another way. Even though Corbyn’s speech today was to the left leaning Fabian Society, the message was surely aimed at a far wider audience. And quite right too.
The BBC headline ‘Jeremy Corbyn warns businesses over ‘unfair’ pay’ is absurd. He was not warning anyone. He was making an argument, backed up with facts which are unarguable, that some people are doing very well at the expense of many who aren’t. Corbyn was putting it out there that it was not right that prosperity was being shared by just a few at the top and not by everyone.
The Tories and Lib Dems proves once more that they are not separated by more than a cigarette paper and that Cameron will be just at home dealing with the useless Tim Farron as he was with Nick Clegg.
This was not Corbyn being extreme; he was pointing out facts. It’s far better than anything we have seen by him and the comrades since his election as Labour leader, obsessing as they have been with internal party politics instead of confronting the real enemy. More please, Mr Corbyn.
