Rachael Lowrie |
Jeremy Corbyn is a British politician who has been crowned the latest leader of the Labour party, with a massive mandate from the membership.
Mr Corbyn has gathered friends and foes alike since his initial election in 1983, mostly due to his left wing outlook, and republican attitude.
Recently, he has been plastered on every newspaper, and murmurings of his policies have been discussed, but rarely clarified, in the media. So: what does Jeremy Corbyn veritably stand for?
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most crucial areas:
Defence and Foreign Affairs – On the recent issue of Britain deciding whether or not to bomb Syria, Mr Corbyn has stated that bombing the country would “kill many people” and may not defeat Isil. Jeremy Corbyn has stated strongly that he will continue to block Cameron’s attempts to launch air strikes in Syria.
NHS – Since Labour introduced the NHS in 1948 it has been the clear jewel Britain’s crown as a welfare state. Mr Corbyn aims for it to remain that way. He has argued that removing any element of privatisation in the national health service is a priority of his. He wants to “ensure it’s completely publicly run and publicly accountable”.
Northern Ireland – In the past, Mr Corbyn has supported the idea of Northern Ireland leaving the United Kingdom if it wishes, and joining the already independent republic of Ireland. This has met with strong criticism from unionists and MPs.
Education – Mr Corbyn’s prime policy in regards to education is to formulate a “national education service”. Mr Corbyn assures this service would be “every bit as vital and as free at the point of use as our NHS”. It would inherently be a lifelong education service, starting with universal childcare, giving extended power to local authorities, introducing a minimum wage for apprentices and putting additional money into adult learning.
Women – Mr Corbyn has been acclaimed for being “hotter on women’s issues” than some women MPs. He has pledged to do more to tackle discrimination in the workplace, at home and on the streets.
As Corbyn begins his reign as Labour leader, questions still abound as to whether he will stick as rigidly to his views outlined in the issues raised above. Already, it seems likely that withdrawal from Nato and cancellation of the Trident nuclear deterrent have been whipped off the table by less supportive shadow cabinet members. Other questions, such as whether this will have an impact on the current strength of the SNP, await to be answered.
One thing is for sure: politics has never been so exciting.
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