Jeremy Corbyn has in my view rewritten the rule book on how progressive parties should campaign.
His leadership of the party was almost an accident with some supporting his candidacy only so that a left wing candidate could be included. He won the leadership against all odds. He then faced appalling behaviour from members of his own caucus who openly sought to undermine him. He won a second leadership contest despite Labour Head Office attempting to tilt the rules.
Labour then should have faced a caning. The Conservatives sensing blood called an early election. The way it was looking Labour would lose heavily. And its future would not be guaranteed.
Then something incredible happened.
Corbyn stuck to his guns. Spoke clearly and simply. Campaigned like a trojan. And Labour announced policies that were progressive and given these days of professional triangulation were radical.
Meanwhile the Conservatives though they would sleep walk to victory and instead of taking their case to the people chose to maximise their chances by a series of sterile photo opportunities which excluded any sight of ordinary people. And the policy announcements were appallingly bad. Dementia tax anyone?
The results are flowing in but already what is clear is that Labour has surged. Current predictions are that it will top 40% of the total vote and be only three or so percent behind the Conservative Party.
And yes the Tories have in terms of total vote performed well. But the UKIP vote has almost disappeared and the overall vote is much more left wing than it was last election.
And rather than cementing a majority it looks like the Conservative Party will have to do deals with the Democratic Unionist Party and others to form a Government. And Theresa May’s future is no longer certain.
What are the lessons for New Zealand Labour and in particular Andrew Little?
Be yourself. Be just a bit radical. Go out and campaign face to face. Be authentic. Be passionate. A bit like this.
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