JK Rowling schools Jeremy Corbyn supporters with massive Twitter rant
Despite being a long-time Labour supporter, the best-selling author aired her grievances regarding the new leadership.
JK Rowling's recent Twitter attack on Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, in which she questioned his credibility as a good prime ministerial candidate seems to have been just the start of her political tirade. The Harry Potter author has now responded to her fans' criticism of her opinion of Corbyn, with the help of statistics.
In the wake of the recently released results of the leaders' approval rating survey which showed Teresa May holding a 64-point advantage over Corbyn, Rowling, a long-time Labour supporter, decided to use numbers from the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown administrations to defend her stance against the current leadership.
It's Friday night, I want a drink & some peace. Before I go, a few stats for the people who like their socialism mouthy and impotent.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
600,000 â The number of children lifted out of poverty in the eight years following New Labour's 1999 child poverty pledge.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
175,000 â The number of extra apprentices between 1997 and 2007.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
103,000 â The number of extra teaching assistants between 1997 and 2007.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
81,000 â The number of extra nurses in the NHS between 1997 and 2007.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
39,000 â The number of extra doctors in the NHS between 1997 and 2007.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
39,000 â The number of extra teachers between 1997 and 2007.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
69 â By March 2009, waiting times for a hospital appointment in England had fallen by 69% on March 1997.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
61 â In 2010/11, spending on benefits and child tax credits had risen in real terms by 61% on 1996/97.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
61 â In 2010/11, spending on benefits and child tax credits had risen in real terms by 61% on 1996/97.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
50 â By March 2009, the number of people on in-patient waiting lists in England had dropped by 50% on March 1997.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
Three â By the end of the last Labour government, the UK was the third-highest spender on family benefits of any country the the OECD.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
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"Call people like me 'Tory Lite.' Call us 'neoliberals.' Call us whatever the hell you want. Call me back when your achievements match those," she tweeted at the end of the long series of posts enumerating the previous Labour governments' achievements.
Call people like me 'Tory Lite.' Call us 'neoliberals.' Call us whatever the hell you want. Call me back when your achievements match those.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 2, 2016
Earlier this week, the best-selling novelist expressed her fears that Corbyn would cause the destruction of the party. "One day in the far distant future we'll look back and we WONT LAUGH, LABOUR, BECAUSE THIS ISN'T BLOODY FUNNY," she mentioned in one tweet on 31 August while in another on 1 September she wrote: "I have nothing to fear from Corbyn except the destruction of the Labour party."
Alan, I already pay full tax. I have nothing to fear from Corbyn except the destruction of the Labour party. https://t.co/HHap9PkkR8
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2016
How is he going to help anyone when the electorate doesn't want him as PM? (Evidence: literally all polls) https://t.co/uiAyNuEPZz
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2016
If you've got to be a millionaire to think Corbyn is a lousy leader, most of this country is secretly loaded. https://t.co/8l9FtvhxK8
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2016
Ever gone hungry to feed your kid, Nick? I have. Last Labour government helped many like me. https://t.co/90uxxT2bxz
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 31, 2016
While many people criticised her attack, calling her "out of touch" and "embarrassing", Frank Field, Labour MP for Birkenhead and chairman of the work and pensions committee, wrote to Rowling commending her for "hitting the nail on the head".
"It is remarkable he has got half a million new members. If he could spell out how this becomes a social movement, rather than an execution squad of Labour MPs, and ties in with what political parties do to try and win elections, then we will be a step forward," he added in his letter.
"I failed to get him to do any of this, I'm afraid. So well done for your blast of reality."
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