Jeremy Corbyn just isn’t putting the work in and isn’t capable of leading Labour
The Left needs competent leadership capable of taking on the Tories but that doesn't look likely under Jez
THE new research on Parliamentary questions show Jeremy Corbyn just isn’t capable of leading the opposition.
Almost two-thirds of his team haven’t managed to get a single answer out of their opposite number.
Hard-left Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell threw Chairman Mao’s communist Red Book at George Osborne, but isn’t pulling his weight when it comes to questions.
Moderate leadership candidate Owen Smith put down over a hundred as he battled the Tories on welfare cuts.
The brilliant Lillian Greenwood tabled 300 questions when she was Shadow Transport Secretary.
Maria Eagle did a superb job exposing how the Tories are cutting our armed forces and putting soldiers on the dole.
She ferreted out the facts with 161 questions.
Party members will be really dismayed to discover Jeremy is doing such a poor job of holding the government to account.
They send us to London to take on the Tories and expose what they’re doing.
It’s our job to show where the cuts are falling and whether policies are applied fairly.
Writing questions and analysing answers is hard graft.
It’s not as exciting as being cheered at rallies by people who already agree with you, but it’s a crucial part of taking on the Tories properly.
And members will be shocked that Jeremy’s campaign published a divisive hit-list of moderate MPs – including deputy leader Tom Watson – instead of holding the government to account.
Every week Labour MPs meet constituents struggling to make ends meet, relying on food banks or hit by unfair policies like the Bedroom Tax.
Unfortunately they also meet people who have always voted Labour but can’t imagine Jeremy as Prime Minister.
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Jeremy started with the worst poll rating in history.
Then they got worse.
Left-wing journalist Owen Jones helped organise his campaign last year but now says he “began as the first Leader of the Opposition ever to have a negative personal rating. His ratings slid from there.”
Last year was our second worst defeat ever but almost one in three of those who voted Labour say they won’t do so again whilst he is in charge.
We’ve been behind in 85 of 89 polls since he became leader.
With figures like that there’s no point pretending Jeremy’s convinced the public he’s got the answers to huge challenges like dealing with the deficit or leaving the EU, funding the NHS or bringing new jobs to the regions.
The problems caused by new technologies and declining traditional industries, international terrorism and record levels of migration are greater and the solutions more complicated than ever before but it’s clear that Jeremy just isn’t putting the work in.
Instead it’s mainstream Labour MPs on the backbenches that are coming up with new ideas, tabling amendments, calling debates and holding the Government to account.
What we need is competent leadership capable of taking on the Tories, addressing these challenges and persuading the public that we have the solutions.