When: Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PMWhere: TBC, Mile End Campus
This event will see expert commentators, leading voices from the British Left, and representatives of Jeremy Corbyn's 'inside circle' reflect on the Labour Party's future.
In 2017, the Labour Left was on the march. Firmly ensconced in the Labour leadership after his surprise election in 2015 and re-election, Jeremy Corbyn mobilised and inspired a diverse coalition of socialists and activists and easily brushed off internal challenges. Corbyn's Labour then unexpectedly deprived Theresa May of her majority in the general election.
Five years on, however, 'Corbynism' has suffered several, seemingly fatal, setbacks. Division over Europe, the antisemitism crisis, and the stalling of reforms to further empower Corbynite activists were followed by the crushing 2019 election defeat, and then by Keir Starmer's convincing victory over Corbyn's ally, Rebecca Long-Bailey, for the leadership. Today, Corbyn is suspended from the Whip and Labour's leadership has consciously ditched parts of the 2019 manifesto. While Starmer's leadership grows increasingly confident in its policy agenda and political prospects, former Corbyn advisers call for more policy ambition and ideological clarity. Many also decry a 'sabotage' by their factional opponents, most recently after the publication of the Forde Report on Labour's toxic internal culture and struggle to stamp out racism.
What now for the diverse left-wing movements that constituted 'Corbynism'? Will the Corbynite alliance hold together or fracture? Should those on the Left try to control the Labour Party, or contribute to Starmer's leadership from a left position, or should they abandon it altogether? Should they instead look to trade union activism, single-issue campaigning, or direct action?
This seminar, which will be chaired by Dr Dan Frost, will see James Schneider (Co-founder of Momentum), Andrew Fisher (Director of Policy, Labour Party, 2015-2019) and Dr Madeleine Davis (QMUL) debate these questions and reflect on the Labour Party's future after Corbyn's leadership.
While the exact venue is TBC, it will be held at QMUL's Mile End campus, start at 6.30pm and finish at 8pm. It will be followed by a short drinks reception.