Jeremy Corbyn: Difference between revisions

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==Early career and political activities==

Returning to the UK in 1971, he worked as an ~~[[Union organizer|~~official]] for the [[National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers]].~~<ref name="roth profile" />~~ Corbyn began a course in [[Trade Union]] Studies at [[North London Polytechnic]] but left after a year without a degree after a series of arguments with his tutors over the curriculum.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wheeler|first1=Brian|title=The Jeremy Corbyn Story: Profile of Labour leader|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34184265|accessdate=21 May 2017|agency=BBC|date=24 September 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912194927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34184265|archivedate=12 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mount |first=Harry |author-link=Harry Mount |date=24 October 2015 |title=Corbyn's purge of the Oxbridge set |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2015/10/labours-purge-of-oxbridge-intellectuals/ |newspaper=[[The Spectator]] |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> He worked as a trade union organiser for the [[National Union of Public Employees]] and [[Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union]],<ref name="roth profile" /><ref name=beeb /><ref name="Hattenstone">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/17/jeremy-corbyn-labour-leadership-dont-do-personal|title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'I don't do personal'|first=Simon|last=Hattenstone|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=17 June 2015|accessdate=20 June 2015|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621045700/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/17/jeremy-corbyn-labour-leadership-dont-do-personal|archivedate=21 June 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> where his union was approached by [[Tony Benn]] and "encouraged ... to produce a blueprint for workers' control of [[British Leyland]]"; the plans did not proceed after Benn was moved to a different Department.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Corbyn|first1=Jeremy|title=Tony Benn: A titan of our movement|url=https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-08f9-Tony-Benn-A-titan-of-our-movement|accessdate=6 June 2016|work=Morning Star|date=17 March 2014|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701114201/https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-08f9-Tony-Benn-A-titan-of-our-movement|archivedate=1 July 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Returning to the UK in 1971, he worked as an official for the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers. Corbyn began a course in Trade Union Studies at North London Polytechnic but left after a year without a degree after a series of arguments with his tutors over the curriculum. He worked as a trade union organiser for the National Union of Public Employees and Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union, where his union was approached by Tony Benn and "encouraged ... to produce a blueprint for workers' control of British Leyland"; the plans did not proceed after Benn was moved to a different Department.

He was appointed a ~~[[Area health authority|~~member]] of a [[district health authority]] and in early 1974, at the age of 24, he was elected to ~~[[London Borough of Haringey|~~Haringey Council]] in South Hornsey ~~[[Wards of the United Kingdom|~~ward]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1974-5-2.pdf |title=London Borough Council Elections 2 May 1974 |publisher=Intelligence Unit, Greater London Council |year=1974 |page=34 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008082403/http://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1974-5-2.pdf |archivedate=8 October 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> After boundary changes in 1978 he was re-elected in ~~[[Harringay]]~~ ward as [[councillor]], remaining so until 1983.<ref name=ft /><ref name="jeremycorbyn.org.uk">{{cite web |url=http://jeremycorbyn.org.uk/about/ |title=About me – Jeremy Corbyn MP |work=jeremycorbyn.org.uk |accessdate=20 June 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619072225/http://jeremycorbyn.org.uk/about/ |archivedate=19 June 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> As a delegate from ~~[[Hornsey (UK Parliament constituency)|~~Hornsey]] to the ~~[[Labour Party (UK) Conference|~~Labour Party conference]] in 1978, Corbyn successfully moved a motion calling for dentists to be employed by the NHS rather than private contractors.~~<ref>{{cite book |title=Report of the Seventyseventh Annual Conference of the Labour Party, Blackpool 1978 |year=1978 |page=188}}</ref>~~ He also spoke in another debate, describing a motion calling for greater support for law and order as "more appropriate to the National Front than to the Labour Party".~~<ref>{{cite book |title=Report of the Seventyseventh Annual Conference of the Labour Party, Blackpool 1978 |year=1978 |pages=376–77}}</ref>~~

He was appointed a member of a district health authority and in early 1974, at the age of 24, he was elected to Haringey Council in South Hornsey ward. After boundary changes in 1978 he was re-elected in Haringey ward as councillor, remaining so until 1983. As a delegate from Hornsey to the Labour Party conference in 1978, Corbyn successfully moved a motion calling for dentists to be employed by the NHS rather than private contractors. He also spoke in another debate, describing a motion calling for greater support for law and order as "more appropriate to the National Front than to the Labour Party".

Corbyn became the local Labour Party's agent and organiser,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/185950380?accountid=17321 |title=London anti-Front rally banned |last=Walker |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Walker (reporter) |publisher=The Guardian |date=21 April 1977 |page=2 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and had responsibility for the 1979 general election campaign in Hornsey.<ref name="roth profile" /> Around this time, he became involved with ''[[London Labour Briefing]],'' where he was a contributor and member of the editorial board during the 1980s. It has been reported that he served as its general secretary for some time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Briefing Lives|work=[[Private Eye]]|issue=1406|publisher=Pressdram Ltd|date=27 November 2015|location=London|page=14}}</ref> He worked on [[Tony Benn]]'s ~~[[Labour Party (UK) deputy leadership election, 1981|~~unsuccessful deputy leadership campaign in 1981]]. He was keen to allow former [[International Marxist Group]] member [[Tariq Ali]] to join the party, despite Labour's National Executive having declared him unacceptable, and declared that "so far as we are concerned ... he's a member of the party and he'll be issued with a card."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/186205704?accountid=17321 |title=Tariq Ali's triumph snatched from his grasp |subscription=y |last=Linton |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Linton |publisher=The Guardian |date=18 December 1981 |page=24 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In May 1982, when Corbyn was chairman of the Constituency Labour Party, Ali was given a party card signed by Corbyn;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/186328348?accountid=17321 |title=Defiant Labour officials give Tariq Ali card |subscription=y |last=Linton |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Linton |publisher=The Guardian |date=28 May 1982 |page=4 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> in November the local party voted by 17 to 14 to insist on his membership "up to and including the point of disbandment of the party".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/186401227?accountid=17321 |title=Hornsey Labour rebels back Tariq Ali's membership |subscription=y |publisher=The Guardian |date=10 November 1982 |page=26 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Corbyn became the local Labour Party's agent and organiser, and had responsibility for the 1979 general election campaign in Hornsey. He worked on Tony Benn's unsuccessful deputy leadership campaign in 1981. He was keen to allow former International Marxist Group member Tariq Ali to join the party, despite Labour's National Executive having declared him unacceptable, and declared that "so far as we are concerned ... he's a member of the party and he'll be issued with a card." In May 1982, when Corbyn was chairman of the Constituency Labour Party, Ali was given a party card signed by Corbyn; in November the local party voted by 17 to 14 to insist on his membership "up to and including the point of disbandment of the party".

In the July 1982 edition of ~~''[[~~London Labour Briefing~~]]''~~, Corbyn opposed expulsions of the [[Militant tendency]], saying that "If expulsions are in order for Militant, they should apply to us too." In the same year, he was the "provisional convener" of "Defeat the Witch-Hunt Campaign", based at Corbyn's then address.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Crick|first1=Michael|title=Militant|date=10 March 2016|location=London|publisher=Biteback Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-1-78590-029-7|pages=xvii–xviii|quote=An article in the July 1982 edition of ''London Labour Briefing'' illustrated Corbyn's public stance: 'If expulsions are in order for Militant,' he wrote, 'they should apply to us too.' And Corbyn, a year before he became an MP, announced himself as 'provisional convenor' of the new 'Defeat the Witch-Hunt Campaign'. It was based at an address in Lausanne Road in Hornsey, north London, Corbyn's own home at that time.}}</ref>

In the July 1982 edition of London Labour Briefing, Corbyn opposed expulsions of the Militant tendency, saying that "If expulsions are in order for Militant, they should apply to us too." In the same year, he was the "provisional convener" of "Defeat the Witch-Hunt Campaign", based at Corbyn's then address.

==Parliamentary backbencher (1983–2015)==

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 ==Early career and political activities==
-Returning to the UK in 1971, he worked as an [[Union organizer|official]] for the [[National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers]].<ref name="roth profile" /> Corbyn began a course in [[Trade Union]] Studies at [[North London Polytechnic]] but left after a year without a degree after a series of arguments with his tutors over the curriculum.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wheeler|first1=Brian|title=The Jeremy Corbyn Story: Profile of Labour leader|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34184265|accessdate=21 May 2017|agency=BBC|date=24 September 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912194927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34184265|archivedate=12 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mount |first=Harry |author-link=Harry Mount |date=24 October 2015 |title=Corbyn's purge of the Oxbridge set |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2015/10/labours-purge-of-oxbridge-intellectuals/ |newspaper=[[The Spectator]] |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> He worked as a trade union organiser for the [[National Union of Public Employees]] and [[Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union]],<ref name="roth profile" /><ref name=beeb /><ref name="Hattenstone">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/17/jeremy-corbyn-labour-leadership-dont-do-personal|title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'I don't do personal'|first=Simon|last=Hattenstone|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=17 June 2015|accessdate=20 June 2015|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621045700/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/17/jeremy-corbyn-labour-leadership-dont-do-personal|archivedate=21 June 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> where his union was approached by [[Tony Benn]] and "encouraged ... to produce a blueprint for workers' control of [[British Leyland]]"; the plans did not proceed after Benn was moved to a different Department.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Corbyn|first1=Jeremy|title=Tony Benn: A titan of our movement|url=https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-08f9-Tony-Benn-A-titan-of-our-movement|accessdate=6 June 2016|work=Morning Star|date=17 March 2014|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701114201/https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-08f9-Tony-Benn-A-titan-of-our-movement|archivedate=1 July 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
+Returning to the UK in 1971, he worked as an official for the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers. Corbyn began a course in Trade Union Studies at North London Polytechnic but left after a year without a degree after a series of arguments with his tutors over the curriculum. He worked as a trade union organiser for the National Union of Public Employees and Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union, where his union was approached by Tony Benn and "encouraged ... to produce a blueprint for workers' control of British Leyland"; the plans did not proceed after Benn was moved to a different Department.
-He was appointed a [[Area health authority|member]] of a [[district health authority]] and in early 1974, at the age of 24, he was elected to [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey Council]] in South Hornsey [[Wards of the United Kingdom|ward]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1974-5-2.pdf |title=London Borough Council Elections 2 May 1974 |publisher=Intelligence Unit, Greater London Council |year=1974 |page=34 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008082403/http://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1974-5-2.pdf |archivedate=8 October 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> After boundary changes in 1978 he was re-elected in [[Harringay]] ward as [[councillor]], remaining so until 1983.<ref name=ft /><ref name="jeremycorbyn.org.uk">{{cite web |url=http://jeremycorbyn.org.uk/about/ |title=About me – Jeremy Corbyn MP |work=jeremycorbyn.org.uk |accessdate=20 June 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619072225/http://jeremycorbyn.org.uk/about/ |archivedate=19 June 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> As a delegate from [[Hornsey (UK Parliament constituency)|Hornsey]] to the [[Labour Party (UK) Conference|Labour Party conference]] in 1978, Corbyn successfully moved a motion calling for dentists to be employed by the NHS rather than private contractors.<ref>{{cite book |title=Report of the Seventyseventh Annual Conference of the Labour Party, Blackpool 1978 |year=1978 |page=188}}</ref> He also spoke in another debate, describing a motion calling for greater support for law and order as "more appropriate to the National Front than to the Labour Party".<ref>{{cite book |title=Report of the Seventyseventh Annual Conference of the Labour Party, Blackpool 1978 |year=1978 |pages=376–77}}</ref>
+He was appointed a member of a district health authority and in early 1974, at the age of 24, he was elected to Haringey Council in South Hornsey ward. After boundary changes in 1978 he was re-elected in Haringey ward as councillor, remaining so until 1983. As a delegate from Hornsey to the Labour Party conference in 1978, Corbyn successfully moved a motion calling for dentists to be employed by the NHS rather than private contractors. He also spoke in another debate, describing a motion calling for greater support for law and order as "more appropriate to the National Front than to the Labour Party".
-Corbyn became the local Labour Party's agent and organiser,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/185950380?accountid=17321 |title=London anti-Front rally banned |last=Walker |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Walker (reporter) |publisher=The Guardian |date=21 April 1977 |page=2 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and had responsibility for the 1979 general election campaign in Hornsey.<ref name="roth profile" /> Around this time, he became involved with ''[[London Labour Briefing]],'' where he was a contributor and member of the editorial board during the 1980s. It has been reported that he served as its general secretary for some time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Briefing Lives|work=[[Private Eye]]|issue=1406|publisher=Pressdram Ltd|date=27 November 2015|location=London|page=14}}</ref> He worked on [[Tony Benn]]'s [[Labour Party (UK) deputy leadership election, 1981|unsuccessful deputy leadership campaign in 1981]]. He was keen to allow former [[International Marxist Group]] member [[Tariq Ali]] to join the party, despite Labour's National Executive having declared him unacceptable, and declared that "so far as we are concerned ... he's a member of the party and he'll be issued with a card."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/186205704?accountid=17321 |title=Tariq Ali's triumph snatched from his grasp |subscription=y |last=Linton |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Linton |publisher=The Guardian |date=18 December 1981 |page=24 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In May 1982, when Corbyn was chairman of the Constituency Labour Party, Ali was given a party card signed by Corbyn;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/186328348?accountid=17321 |title=Defiant Labour officials give Tariq Ali card |subscription=y |last=Linton |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Linton |publisher=The Guardian |date=28 May 1982 |page=4 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> in November the local party voted by 17 to 14 to insist on his membership "up to and including the point of disbandment of the party".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/186401227?accountid=17321 |title=Hornsey Labour rebels back Tariq Ali's membership |subscription=y |publisher=The Guardian |date=10 November 1982 |page=26 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121125430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35371204 |archivedate=21 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
+Corbyn became the local Labour Party's agent and organiser, and had responsibility for the 1979 general election campaign in Hornsey. He worked on Tony Benn's unsuccessful deputy leadership campaign in 1981. He was keen to allow former International Marxist Group member Tariq Ali to join the party, despite Labour's National Executive having declared him unacceptable, and declared that "so far as we are concerned ... he's a member of the party and he'll be issued with a card." In May 1982, when Corbyn was chairman of the Constituency Labour Party, Ali was given a party card signed by Corbyn; in November the local party voted by 17 to 14 to insist on his membership "up to and including the point of disbandment of the party".
-In the July 1982 edition of ''[[London Labour Briefing]]'', Corbyn opposed expulsions of the [[Militant tendency]], saying that "If expulsions are in order for Militant, they should apply to us too." In the same year, he was the "provisional convener" of "Defeat the Witch-Hunt Campaign", based at Corbyn's then address.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Crick|first1=Michael|title=Militant|date=10 March 2016|location=London|publisher=Biteback Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-1-78590-029-7|pages=xvii–xviii|quote=An article in the July 1982 edition of ''London Labour Briefing'' illustrated Corbyn's public stance: 'If expulsions are in order for Militant,' he wrote, 'they should apply to us too.' And Corbyn, a year before he became an MP, announced himself as 'provisional convenor' of the new 'Defeat the Witch-Hunt Campaign'. It was based at an address in Lausanne Road in Hornsey, north London, Corbyn's own home at that time.}}</ref>
+In the July 1982 edition of London Labour Briefing, Corbyn opposed expulsions of the Militant tendency, saying that "If expulsions are in order for Militant, they should apply to us too." In the same year, he was the "provisional convener" of "Defeat the Witch-Hunt Campaign", based at Corbyn's then address.
 ==Parliamentary backbencher (1983–2015)==