Perhaps seeking to ride the wave of popularism, which has swept the world in the last 12 months, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has come out the gate with a barnstorming speech, railing against "the establishment," using similar rhetoric to a man he has publicly slammed in the past: US President Donald Trump.
"A Labour government that isn't scared to take on the cosy cartels that are hoarding this country's wealth for themselves… It needs a government that will use that wealth to invest in people's lives in every community to build a better future for every person who lives here," Corbyn insisted in London, at his first major campaign speech.
Mr. Corbyn hit out at "the wealth extractors," including the controversial former BHS owner Sir Philip Green, adding that he will never "doff his cap" to "powerful people."
With Labour councils, we are building houses in our communities. With a Labour government, we will build them across our country. RT ↓ pic.twitter.com/uGWNlVn38C
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 19, 2017
Corbyn will talk about "wealth creators" (the people) vs "wealth extractors" — not sure how catchy that is.
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) April 20, 2017
At the end of his speech, Corbyn — a man who has seemed worn down by months of unfriendly headlines in the media — looked buoyed.
Theresa May will say that #GE2017 is about Brexit while ignoring Tory failure & the issues that affect people’s lives every day. #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/cs8JkDqCDr
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 20, 2017
Guardian: "Corbyn — This election is not a foregone conclusion". There's a rallying cry to enthuse a nation…
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) April 19, 2017
A broad smile spread across his face as his supporters rose for a standing ovation.
However, the mood was soon broken by reporters.
An ITV News journalist asked Mr. Corbyn why he was using populist rhetoric against "the elite," when some could easily accuse Corbyn of being "part of an Islington elite" himself.
Labour supporters erupted in pantomime boos.
The fact that Mr. Corbyn is currently suffering from abysmal personal poll ratings was also raised.
New Guardian/ICM poll.
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) April 18, 2017
May is doing a Good job: 57%
Bad Job: 24%
Net: +33%
Corbyn is doing good job: 13%
Bad job: 61%
Net: —48%
A recent ICM poll found that only 13% believe Corbyn is doing a good job as party leader, in comparison with a 57% positive rating for Prime Minister Theresa May.
Corbyn's response to his numbers was to portray himself as an underdog figure.
"In 2015, almost two years ago, I was given odds of 200 to 1!" Corbyn reminded the crowd wryly, referring to his initial candidacy for the leadership of the Labour party, which he went on to win to the astonishment of almost all political pundits.
This election is "not a foregone conclusion," Corbyn added.
However, Labour has a steep hill to climb indeed, if he is to change the minds of the majority of the electorate.
We will challenge the rigged economy. We will not let the elite extract wealth from the pockets of ordinary people any longer. #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/EqHsSEPN1R
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 20, 2017
Key issues in this, like all elections, are the economy and defense.
May's Defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon on Thursday, April 20, described Jeremy Corbyn as feeble and gutless on defense, adding that the UK's adversaries would welcome a Labour victory.
Prime Minister Theresa May also pointed to the upcoming Brexit negotiations, which he said would require a strong leader to secure the best deal possible for Britain.
Speaking in a traditionally Labour marginal seat in Bolton on Wednesday, April 19, Mrs. May accused Labour of being at the center of "a coalition of chaos."
The choice at this election: a coalition of chaos creating uncertainty and risk — or Theresa May's strong, competent leadership. RETWEET pic.twitter.com/iHJuqz0q0s
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) April 19, 2017
@rosscolquhoun Crush The Saboteurs sounds more Emo to be fair. 'CynicalRuse' perhaps electronica.
— Phil Miller (@PhilipJEMiller) April 19, 2017
A stable May government will ensure a better Brexit, writes @RuthDavidsonMSP for today's Red Box https://t.co/5ngdHhmRB4 pic.twitter.com/gwxZQaF61q
— Red Box (@timesredbox) April 19, 2017
It comes after Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon offered to enter into a "progressive alliance" with Labour and the Lib Dems to keep the Conservatives from power.
.@NicolaSturgeon claims a Conservative victory would create a government “that just a few years ago Ukip could scarcely have dreamed of”. pic.twitter.com/uNikfU76zw
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) April 19, 2017
.@nicolasturgeon on why @theSNP is the only way to protect Scotland against an unfettered Tory government at Westminster. #GE17 #FMQs pic.twitter.com/SG4QeNvpvD
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) April 20, 2017
Labour has hit back by saying that Mr. Corbyn will refuse such a coalition, perhaps remembering the specter of highly damaging ads from the 2015 election, while the Lib Dems' official Twitter account posted:
Jeremy Corbyn is never going to be Prime Minister because he can't even lead his own party https://t.co/VYiLS9lf0U pic.twitter.com/yRhR8zdRke
— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) April 20, 2017
"We've been ready since last summer" @LibDems @timfarron says West Country is a firm election target #GeneralElection2017 pic.twitter.com/0a4d2jdFKp
— ITV News WestCountry (@itvwestcountry) April 18, 2017
Conservatives painted former Labour leader Ed Miliband as being in the pocket of Scottish nationalists, which pundits say contributed to some English voters turning away from Labour at the polls
Ed Miliband in Alex Salmond's pocket would mean chaos for Britain. #VoteConservative http://t.co/i9tyT04JHr pic.twitter.com/zBCIYGenwp
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) March 9, 2015
The general election campaign has just started and with seven weeks to go, the tension between the parties will only rise.
Although many of the polls indicate that the prime minister's gamble will likely pay off in her favor, if there's anything that the world of politics has learned in the last two years, it's that pollsters can be proved dramatically wrong, with shocking consequences.
