Jeremy Corbyn: Reactions to Labour conference speech from the Westminster bubble and beyond
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is dividing opinion with his debut speech as leader to the party conference in Brighton.
Corbyn, the far-left veteran MP who came from nowhere to win by a landslide the Labour leadership in a September vote, is promising a "kinder politics". While his supporters say his style is refreshing and inspiring, his critics find it naive and idealistic.
"I've been given a huge mandate, by 59% of the electorate who supported my campaign," Corbyn told Labour delegates. "I believe it is a mandate for change. I want to explain how.
"First and foremost it's a vote for change in the way we do politics, in the Labour Party and in the country. Politics that's kinder, more inclusive. Bottom up, not top down. In every community and workplace, not just in Westminster. Real debate, not necessarily message discipline all the time. But above all, straight talking. Honest. That's the politics we're going to have in the future in this party and in this movement."
Here is how those from the Westminster bubble and beyond were reacting on Twitter to Corbyn's first conference speech.
Corbyn's speech is like an Open University sociology lecture that never ends.
— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) September 29, 2015
Corbyn broke most rules of conf speeches; full of flaws, but courageous on some issues. Prob very effective with party, maybe not w voters
— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) September 29, 2015
Not one big new idea in Corbyn's speech. All rehashed 1980s tax, tax, tax and spend, spend, spend. Except, of course, on national defence.
— Tim Montgomerie (@montie) September 29, 2015
Jeremy Corbean... #labourconference #Lab15 #Corbyn pic.twitter.com/P8yBhWKNnt
— Ben Nicholls (@Benjaminicholls) September 29, 2015
Keith Vaz really, really liked Jeremy Corbyn's speech. "Stunning... It felt like I was on a date with Jeremy." #Lab15
— Josh May (@Josh_Mayy) September 29, 2015
Inspiring speech from @jeremycorbyn we can have society we want, kinder, more open, where employed & self employed get a fair deal. #lab15
— chi onwurah (@ChiOnwurah) September 29, 2015
His arguments completely aside, this is a really bad speech. Clunking, disjoined, rushed. "Unspun" does not need to mean "turgid". #lab15
— Jeremy Cliffe (@JeremyCliffe) September 29, 2015
Voters in Corby, one of the UK's most marginal electoral seats, share their view on Jeremy Corbyn's speech #Lab15 https://t.co/Wns7vJ0Xta
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 29, 2015
"I don't believe in personal abuse of any sort, no rudeness from me" says Jez. Minutes after slagging off media, commentators individuals
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) September 29, 2015
Corbyn's speech a failure, it appears he is content to talk to the converted but failed to speak to the nation https://t.co/Unbba2zQYk
— Richard Calhoun (@richardcalhoun) September 29, 2015
Even before Corbyn's speech Lab's conference hall felt more hostile for journalists this year. Media stand attracting heckles from activists
— Joe Watts (@JoeWatts_) September 29, 2015
BCC: Corbyn is right to call for a more proactive approach to infrastructure investment and improved access to capital for growing companies
— BCC (@britishchambers) September 29, 2015
Watched #jeremycorbyn's speech. Gr8. Gone r Milliband's tentative baby steps 2 nowhere. Corbyn has a genuine socialist (ie: moral) agenda.
— Mike McCulloch (@memcculloch) September 29, 2015
Burnham on how Corbyn's speech would go down away from #Lab15: "We'll see". But stresses people "crying out" for different style of politics
— Arj Singh (@singharj) September 29, 2015
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