Jeremy Corbyn has declared “we changed the face of British politics”. This may seem just a bit hyperbolic coming from the leader of the Party who came in second place. Yet in this case it is justified. More than just revive a moribund Labour Party and social democratic agenda – he is fundamentally transforming who are the “British people”
Corbyn and his team have achieved something historically significant. They have given traditionally marginalised groups such as young people, non-whites and the poor a renewed voice for shaping the country’s present and future. They have given us a positive version of populism. His activist politics, fuelled by Momentum, has suddenly turned into a dramatic expansion of who matters in UK elections and therefore for British policy makers.
This stands in stark contrast to May and the Conservative’s exclusive brand of populism. They sought to unite loyal Tories with disaffected Ukip and Labour voters who felt ignored by political and financial elites. While Corbyn desired a broad coalition, May was content to simply run up the score with traditional voters who supposedly represent the supposedly “real” British people.
